Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Sickle Cell Anemia Disease is a genetic disorder in which the body produces crescent or sickle shaped red blood cells that can get stuck in blood vessels causing pain, serious infection, anemia, and organ damage. The pain experienced by individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease can vary in intensity and last for a few hours to a few weeks. Sickle Cell was declared a major health problem in 1971. Sickle Cell Disease is prevalent in all racial and ethnic groups. The United States Congress declared September National Sickle Cell Awareness month to help focus attention on the need for research and treatment of sickle cell disease.