Surprising Facts About Sickle Cell Anemia

It’s More Than Just Pain

One of the first things many individuals think of when it comes to sickle cell anemia is the amount of pain patients go through. While painful swelling in the hands and feet and overall pain is a significant part of the condition, it is not the only one. Both children and adults with sickle cell disease are at a significantly increased risk for a stroke. In addition to this, adult patients often face other complications such as vision loss, gallstones, delayed growth, bacterial infections, splenic sequestration, organ damage and failure, and leg ulcers. It just goes to show how integral blood flow and oxygen are and how many individuals take proper body function for granted.

Continue reading to learn about the surprising fact about life expectancy for patients with sickle cell disease.