Sickle-cell disorders
Sickle-cell disease is a blood condition where red blood cells become C-shaped and struggle to flow through your body properly.
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Your red blood cells are usually round and flexible, like soft pillows, which allows them to slide easily through your blood vessels. In people with sickle-cell disease, these cells are shaped like a crescent moon or a farmer's sickle. Because of this stiff shape, they get stuck in narrow blood vessels, blocking the flow of oxygen to your organs.
This condition is lifelong and affects the way your body carries oxygen. Because your body breaks down these abnormal cells faster than normal ones, people with this condition often have a low red blood cell count, which is called anemia, leaving them feeling very tired.
Common Symptoms
- Sudden, intense pain in the chest, back, arms, or legs, often called a pain crisis.
- Extreme tiredness or feeling worn out due to anemia.
- Swelling and pain in the hands and feet.
- Frequent infections, such as pneumonia.
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, known as jaundice.
- Delayed growth or puberty in children.