Today is World Sickle Cell Day, which is a 24-hour international campaign, “to increase public knowledge and understanding of sickle cell disease (SCD), and the challenges experienced by patients and their families and caregivers.” World Sickle Cell Day is observed annually on June 19 ever since the United Nations’ General Assembly first recognized SCD as a public health concern on this day in 2008.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “sickle cell disease, or sickle cell anemia, is a major genetic disease. In sickle cell disease, the normal round shape of red blood cells become like crescent moons. Round red blood cells can move easily through the blood vessels but sickled shaped cells interconnect and can result in blood clots.” The American Society of Hematology states that “approximately 70,000 to 100,000 Americans have sickle cell disease.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that SCD is a life-long condition and treatment depends on age and overall health. Early diagnosis is ideal in order to prevent complications and organ damage caused by some of its symptoms. Some symptoms of SCD include, anemia, pain or sickle crisis, acute chest syndrome, splenic sequestration (pooling), stroke, jaundice, and priapism.
To discuss your treatment options with a healthcare professional and to schedule an annual physical at any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, you may visit our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.
Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sickle-cell-disease
https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/sickle-cell-disease
https://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/Sickle-Cell.aspx
https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/get-involoved/events/awareness-month-and-world-sickle-day/