Sickle
Cell
Anemia
is
a
protein
found
in
red
blood
cells
that
carries
.
Sickle
cell
anemia
is
caused
by
an
abnormal
version
of
the
hemoglobin
protein
.
This
abnormal
version
,
called
hemoglobin
S
,
changes
the
shape
of
red
cells
,
especially
when
the
cells
are
exposed
to
low
levels
.
While
normal
red
blood
cells
are
-
shaped
and
flexible
,
red
blood
cells
that
contain
hemoglobin
S
become
shaped
like
crescents
or
and
are
inflexible
.
These
fragile
,
sickle
-
shaped
cells
deliver
less
oxygen
to
the
body's
tissues
.
They
also
can
get
stuck
more
easily
in
small
blood
and
break
into
pieces
that
interrupt
healthy
blood
;
interrupted
blood
flow
can
cause
extreme
.
Other
complications
of
sickle
cell
disease
are
anemia
(
a
shortage
of
healthy
red
blood
cells
)
,
fatigue
,
jaundice
and
blindness
.
Source
:
National
Heart
,
Lung
,
and
Blood
Institute
,
National
Institutes
of
Health
.
Sickle
Cell
Trait
Sickle
cell
anemia
is
inherited
from
parents
.
That
is
,
individuals
who
have
sickle
cell
anemia
have
inherited
two
copies
of
the
hemoglobin
gene
,
one
gene
from
their
father
and
one
gene
from
their
mother
.
In
contrast
,
individuals
who
inherit
one
gene
for
hemoglobin
S
from
one
parent
and
one
gene
for
normal
hemoglobin
(
A
)
from
the
other
parent
have
sickle
cell
(
SCT
)
.
People
with
do
not
have
the
symptoms
of
sickle
cell
anemia
,
but
can
be
at
risk
for
complications
under
certain
conditions
.
Also
,
they
can
pass
on
the
hemoglobin
S
gene
to
their
children
.
SCT
and
sickle
cell
anemia
(
also
called
sickle
cell
disease
)
are
much
more
common
in
people
of
African
and
descent
.
This
is
because
SCT
has
been
shown
to
provide
resistance
to
,
a
disease
spread
by
mosquitoes
that
is
common
in
areas
where
mosquitoes
thrive
.
It
is
estimated
that
1
in
12
African
Americans
(
roughly
8%
)
have
SCT
.
Source
:
Colin
ML
Burnett
,
CC
BY
-
SA
3
.
0
Most
people
with
SCT
do
not
have
any
symptoms
of
sickle
cell
anemia
,
although
in
rare
cases
people
with
SCT
might
experience
harmful
complications
in
certain
extreme
conditions
.
One
such
condition
is
low
oxygen
levels
,
which
one
might
encounter
while
mountain
climbing
or
in
cities
far
above
sea
level
,
such
as
Denver
,
Colorado
.
National
Football
League
star
Ryan
Clark
,
who
has
SCT
,
does
not
play
at
Mile
High
Stadium
in
Denver
in
an
effort
to
avoid
health
complications
.
,
a
condition
where
one's
body
loses
too
much
water
,
also
poses
a
risk
.
Sickle
Cell
Trait
and
Athletes
Some
people
with
SCT
have
been
shown
to
be
more
likely
to
experience
stroke
and
muscle
breakdown
when
doing
intense
exercise
,
such
as
competitive
sports
or
military
-
style
training
,
at
unfavorable
temperatures
(
very
high
or
low
)
or
conditions
.
In
very
rare
cases
,
workouts
in
extreme
conditions
can
lead
to
.
Studies
have
shown
that
enough
water
and
avoiding
getting
during
exercise
can
reduce
the
chance
of
complications
.
People
with
SCT
who
participate
in
competitive
sports
,
including
high
school
and
college
level
student
-
athletes
,
should
be
careful
when
training
and
.
Experts
suggest
a
number
of
precautions
to
prevent
SCT
-
related
illness
.
These
include
pacing
oneself
,
warming
up
slowly
and
resting
when
needed
.
In
addition
,
it
is
advised
to
drink
before
,
during
and
after
exercise
and
avoid
extreme
and
humidity
.
It
is
also
very
important
to
seek
medical
care
immediately
when
feeling
ill
.
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