Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. About 100,000 Americans are thought to be living with sickle cell disease, and every year another 1,000 babies are born with the disease. Worldwide it is thought to affect more than 500,000 babies a year.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that causes the red blood cells to be abnormally shaped and get stuck inside the blood vessels, making it hard to deliver oxygen throughout the body. This causes intense pain and can lead to infection and severe complications like organ damage and stroke.
Here are 5 Things to Know About Sickle Cell Disease with Dr. Joseph Tropea, Hematologist/Oncologist Lourdes Medical Center of Camden County and Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County.