Sickle cell is a hereditary blood disorder where red blood cells take on a sickle, or crescent, shape. It affects around 1 in 400 African Americans and 1 in 19,000 Latinos. There are different types of sickle cell, with SS being the most severe form. Complications of sickle cell include acute chest syndrome, infections, strokes, and organ damage. Life expectancy is lower for those with sickle cell, especially for males with the SS form. Pregnancy is also high risk for women with sickle cell. While diseases like cancer and AIDS receive more attention, sickle cell affects a similar number of people and deserves more awareness and support.

1. Sickle Cell By: N’Shai GreenVictoria Ojeda

2. Essential question Why is it ok to push aside disease (such as sickle cell) and focus only on cancer and AIDS and such?How can we change it?

3. What is sickle cell?Sickle cell is a hereditary disease that deals with the bone marrow making blood that is sickle shaped. In the blood there is a protein that is what makes blood able to hold/carry oxygen. Sickle cell blood is lacking that protein.

4. IT’S NOT A BLACK DISEASE!1 in 400 Blacks get the disease1 in 19000 Latinas get the disease1 in 12 - 1 in 100 Blacks and Latinas have the trait.

5. What’s the difference? Anemia?There is a difference between sickle cell and sickle cell anemia. Anemia is its own disease, but is very commonly combined with sickle cell. Anemia is when you have a low blood count.

6. How many KINDS of sickle cell are there? Most people think there is just sickle cell and sickle cell trait BUT in fact there are many little different types but the main three the only three that actually matter are SC, SS and sickle cell trait.According to text books SS is more important and SC…not as much and no one should really worry about it but it doesn’t matter if you have SS or SC the main thing that determines which is worse is who takes more care of themselves

7. TimeFor sickle cell patients they usually start puberty late and are small (skinny, short, ect.). The life expectancy for a patient with SS is 42 years for males and 48 years for femalesLife expectancy for a patient with SC is 60 years for males and 68 years for females. This applies for people who take care of themselves.

8. Pregnancy Having children is a very risky thing to do for a woman with sickle cell (anemia). During the pregnancy they could go through countless amounts of horrible crisis’ on top of the normal pains of pregnancy. Women with sickle cell disease who become pregnant are at higher risk for complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.

9. What is a crisis?When the blood clots it is called a crisis.

10. Complications that sickle cell producesAcute Chest Syndrome (ACS)Infections Pulmonary HypertensionStrokeAnemiaKidney ProblemsPriapism (males)Liver ProblemsGallbladder DiseaseSpleen DamageBone and Joint ProblemsLeg Sores and UlcersEye Problems

11. Everyday LifeSo some of the most basic rules and constrictions for a sickle cell patient areNo swimmingNo sportsNo P.E.Stay out of the heat and stay out of the coldDrink LOTS of water When you do drink soda drink clear sodas (caffeine is not good)

12. We need awarenessHow come its ok to skip and or push aside a disease that’s just as crucial as cancer, AIDS , ect.?Its not ok. Together with our knowledge and our voices we could try to pass this along and CHANGE the world and how it views the people with sickle cell.

13. cancer1,592 members In other words 1,592 SIGNATURES

14. Sickle cell610 signatures BIG difference

15. End for now You can help make a difference!