White people can also get sickle cell disease although sickle cell disease is most common in African heritage of people.
Anyone of any race or color can get sickle cell disease.
The difference between sickle cell anemia and sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia is a specific type of Sickle cell disease in which there are 2 sickle cell genes.
The sickle cell disease is a serious of conditions that are inherited and are genetic which affects the red blood cells in the blood.
Sickle cell can be cured through bone marrow transplants and stem cell replacement.
However these cures are rarely done for sickle cell disease because they carry significant risks.
The stem cells are special cells that are produced by bone marrow which are a spongy tissue that is found in the center of some bones and they can turn into different types of blood cells.
Sickle cells are a group of disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshapen and break down.
Sickle cell disease is caused by inheriting the sickle cell gene.
It's not caused by anything the parents did before or during the pregnancy and you cannot catch it from someone who has it.
Sickle cells that block blood flow to organs deprive the affected organs of blood and oxygen.
In sickle cell anemia, blood is also chronically low in oxygen.
This lack of oxygen-rich blood can damage nerves and organs, including kidneys, liver and spleen, and can be fatal.
The symptoms of sickle cell disease are.
Breathing problems (shortness of breath or pain when breathing or both) Extreme tiredness. Headache or dizziness. Painful erections in males.
People with sickle cell disease (SCD) start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age.
Symptoms and complications of SCD are different for each person and can range from mild to severe.
Can Women With Sickle Cell Disease Have A Healthy Pregnancy?
Yes, with early prenatal care and careful monitoring throughout the pregnancy, a woman with SCD can have a healthy pregnancy.
However, women with SCD are more likely to have problems during pregnancy that can affect their health and that of their unborn baby.
People with sickle cell disease should be active, but intense activities that cause you to become seriously out of breath are best avoided. avoid alcohol and smoking – alcohol can cause you to become dehydrated and smoking can trigger a serious lung condition called acute chest syndrome.
The main symptoms of sickle cell disease are: painful episodes called sickle cell crises, which can be very severe and last up to a week.
An increased risk of serious infections. anemia (where red blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen around the body), which can cause tiredness and shortness of breath.