LET'S DISCUSS
Sickle Cell Dis-ease
Watch Julian's Story
What Is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell is a red blood cell disorder. There is no way to catch sickle cell. It is not contagious.
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How Do Sickled Cells Affect The Body?
Healthy red blood cells are smooth, round, and bendable so they can easily flow through blood vessels and carry oxygen to every part of the body. Sickle cells are shaped like a banana.
Sickled red blood cells are stiff and sticky, and don’t move freely throughout the blood vessels. Sickled red blood cells can pile up and block blood flow like a traffic jam, keeping healthy red blood cells from carrying oxygen and from getting where they need to go. Because sickled red blood cells break down, there are less and less in the body to carry oxygen. When there are too few red blood cells carrying oxygen, anemia can result which causes people to feel weak and tired.
Why Does Sickle Cell Cause Pain?
Sickle cell pain happens when sickled blood cells get stuck in blood vessels. Because of their shape, stiffness, and stickiness, sickled cells don’t slide past each other smoothly like round red blood cells do. Instead, they can catch onto each other and form pile-ups. These pile-ups cause pain and cuts off oxygen flow to parts of the body.​
Your Support Creates Healing
Join Sickle Cell Research Support Foundation in transforming lives through the power of creativity. Your donation helps provide arts and music programs to children and adults, especially those facing the challenges of sickle cell disease, anxiety, and depression.
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Together, we can inspire hope and improve wellbeing.