September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell is an inherited condition that is passed down from your parents the same way people get the color of their eyes, skin and hair. There is no way to catch sickle cell – it is not contagious.

• Sickle cell begins with hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen. People with sickle cell have a type of hemoglobin that when it releases oxygen, it clumps together on one side of the red blood cell, causing the cell to sickle or become banana-shaped.  
• Sickle cell affects about 100,000 people in the United States alone. People of African descent make up 90% of the population with sickle cell in the U.S. It also affects people of Hispanic, South Asian, Southern European and Middle Eastern ancestry.
• It’s important to note that whether you experience day-to-day symptoms or not, the overall impact of the disease is progressive and damage can still be occurring in your body. This is why it’s important to learn about your disease early and work with your healthcare team to develop healthy, preventative habits at a young age.