“Sickle cell disease is the name for a group of inherited health conditions that affect the red blood cells. The most serious type is called sickle cell anaemia.
Sickle cell disease is particularly common in people with an African or Caribbean family background.
If you live in the United Kingdom and need to interact with others about localised Sickle Cell Awareness, Please join our Facebook group.
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People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems because they do not live as long as healthy blood cells and can block blood vessels.” source: https://www.nhsinform.scot/
“Sickle cell disease is a serious and lifelong health condition, although treatment can help manage many of the symptoms.
Sickle cell disease affects how your body produces red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are round – red blood cells affected by sickle cell disease harden and become sickle-shaped, like a crescent moon. This causes them to die too quickly and block blood vessels, leading to symptoms that are often painful.”
source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/
Please be aware that just like every other illness, sickle cell affects people differently; some people with sickle cell may feel more pain than others.
, Janet Daby MP took a stand, urging the Government to prioritise swift pain relief for sickle cell patients at A&E.