Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder. It alters the shape of
the red blood cells (RBCs). This decreases their ability to
carry oxygen. It can also cause acute episodes of pain. These
are called a sickle cell crisis. The body will also destroy the
sickle cells. The loss of RBCs results in anemia. The change in
the ability and number of RBCs can decrease the amount of oxygen
for the body. Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. RBCs are
normally soft and round. This helps them move easily through the
blood vessels. A main building block of the RBC is hemoglobin.
People with sickle cell anemia have an abnormal type of
hemoglobin. It causes the RBCs to become hard and sickle-shaped.
Because of their odd shape, some of the cells get stuck in the
small blood vessels. There they break apart. The broken parts
can cause blockages in the vessels. This can happen in a blood
vessel that leads to a major organ. The decreased blood flow can
cause severe pain and organ damage. The body also recognizes
that sickled cells