September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Sickle Cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that causes a protein in your blood, called hemoglobin, to be of abnormal shape. This abnormal shape, or sickled, blood cells can get stuck in your blood vessels, which damages your organs and tissues. When your blood vessels get blocked by the sickled blood cells, you can have severe pain, infection, strokes and other serious health problems.

SCD affects over 100,000 people in the U.S. Symptoms and complications can be mild to severe. For most people, the disease gets worse over time. 1 out of every 365 African Americans are born with SCD and 1 out of every 16,3000 Hispanics are bring with SCD.

HOW CAN IT BE TREATED?

SCD affects each person differently, so there is no “best treatment” for everyone with SCD. There are several medicines to help with SCD complications people experience. 

SYMPTOMS

• Anemia. Sickle cells break apart easily and die. … 
• Episodes of pain. Periodic episodes of extreme pain, called pain crises, are a major symptom of sickle cell anemia. … 
• Swelling of hands and feet. … 
• Frequent infections. … 
• Delayed growth or puberty. … 
• Vision problems 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and are concerned you may have SCD, we’re here to help and serve you.

Grace Medical Clinic  is open Monday through Saturday, with no appointments or insurance needed.