Considering that September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and a lot of people do not know about it I decided to do my article on sickle cell. Earlier this week I was sick, and it was an after effect of my sickle cell crisis. I was explaining to someone that I was sick because of my sickle cell crisis and the person asked me if I was contagious. That really upset me and since I realize that a lot of people are very unaware and uninformed of what sickle cell really is I decided to compile facts everyone should know about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Here are 10 things you should know about SCD:
10. I'm Not Contagious.
Contrary to popular belief people with sickle cell are not contagious, so you never have to worry about catching it!
9. It Is Hereditary.
Sickle cell is a hereditary blood disease; you only get it from your family. For myself both my mom and dad have the trait so I ended up getting it from both sides.
8. There are different types.
There are four types of sickle cell, but the two most common are HBSS and HBSC. HBSS is considered the worst one to have; I have HBSS.
7. Anyone can have it.
Sickle cell is not a "black disease." It affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, Italian, Grecian, Hispanic, and South American decent.
6. Who has it.
According to the University of Florida, "1 in 12 African Americans has sickle cell disease."
5. You never know who has it.
100,000 people are affected with SCD in America and millions globally are also affected. You may know someone and not know they have sickle cell.
4. It helps protect against malaria.
People with sickle cell are protected against Malaria, but scientists have not figured out how that is possible.
3. Sickle cell does not have a cure for adults.
Sickle cell can be cured if you get a bone marrow transplant but unfortunately, adults are unable to get the bone marrow transplant. So in a sense, there is not a full cure for sickle cell yet.
2. Sickle cell hurts.
Living with SCD is really painful. Though many of us with sickle cell have learned to develop a high pain tolerance, there are still days when our pain is so bad that we can barely move.
1. What it is.
According to Mayoclinic.org, "Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia-- a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body."
Though having sickle cell to me can be very hard I honestly could not picture my life without it, and I wish people would try to be understanding about it rather than judge it and people with it because we have feelings too.
