The blood condition called sickle cell anemia is an inherited chronic disease. Basically, it starts taking place when red blood cells transform their shape from being disc like to sickle-shaped. This causes impairment in their functioning, further affecting one’s health.

Red blood cells serve the function of transporting oxygen to several different parts, so that each organ gets its required amount for normal working. When these cells are in their normal shape, it is quite simple for them to pass from narrow vessels, without being stuck.

On the contrary, with the change in shape their transportation becomes quite difficult. Being sick-shaped they might block up blood vessels instead of passing through with ease. Due to this, some organs have to remain without the desired amount of oxygen.

Specifically the heart, kidneys and brains are such organs, which when not given oxygen may end up creating serious health problems for the person in question. Such a situation results in severe pain in the individual, and if not treated on time it may become all the more worse along with the lungs, kidneys liver and heart being damaged.

The degree and intensity of symptoms is not fixed and may differ from one individual to another. They are not severe for everyone suffering from sickle cell anemia, as some may go through mild ones too. These symptoms also do not attack the sufferer at one time, but may come separately.

Even though the disease is present since the time of birth in an individual, its symptoms usually do not pop up before the baby has reached four months. Apart from pain which is the most common and frequently experienced symptom, people may also go through difficulty in breathing with ease, rapid heart rate, lethargy, dizziness, headaches and stomach pain, abdomen and chest.

The patient’s feet and hands may also turn unusually cold and his/her skin may become pale. At times, blood may also be present in urine and the person may go through decreased fertility.

For children, the symptoms may again vary from one child to another in intensity. Some children may go through pain only for a couple of minutes, while some may have to bear with it for days. Pains in the chest, bones and stomach is experienced too.

Anemia