Sickle Cell Crisis
Blood is important. We were all taught that in elementary school. Our blood needs to be healthy and adequate if you want to live a long and fulfilling life.
On the other hand, there are people with sickle cell crisis, a life-long blood disorder that causes pain and other complications.
Sickle cell crisis, or sickle cell disease, is characterized by abnormal red blood cells that assume a rigid, sickle shape. This sickling of the red blood cells decreases their flexibility, leading to a host of health complications. Take note there is no complete cure for sickle cell disease, at least for now.
People with sickle cell disease often suffer from vaso-occlusive crisis. It is caused when the abnormal red blood cells begin to restrict blood flow to the organs and obstruct capillaries. A person suffering from vaso-occlusive crisis experiences intense pain, ischemia, and most of the time, organ damage. Sometimes the condition is called “painful crisis”, with the frequency and severity of the crisis periods varying from time to time.
Sickle cell crisis is more common in people from places where malaria is or became a problem.
Feel free to browse our pages for more information on sickle cell crisis.