June 21, 2024- Every June 19th marks World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, an important global initiative focused on spreading awareness and understanding about sickle cell disease (SCD). This condition affects approximately 100,000 Americans, making it the most common inherited blood disorder in the nation. While SCD can lead to a variety of health problems, people with SCD can live well and thrive with the right care and lifestyle choices. Sickle cell disease affects hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. In this condition, red blood cells become stiff and crescent-shaped, making it difficult for them to move through blood vessels. This can lead to blockages, pain, and potential organ damage.
Early screening, determining an individual’s risk factors, and understanding the symptoms, complications, and treatment for the disease are important for understanding and treating it for a better life.