HHS HealthBeat (September 29, 2010)

A century of sickle cell

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

About 100 years ago, the first case of what’s now called sickle cell disease was documented. More than 100,000 people in the United States have the inherited blood disorder, which can lead to infection, anemia, extreme pain, stroke, asthma and even death.

Although sickle cell can’t be cured without a bone marrow transplant, treatments can make the symptoms less severe. And, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Melissa Creary says people with sickle cell can do some things on their own:

"You and your health care provider should develop a care plan together, and include ways to stay hydrated, get proper rest, and maybe supplement with folic acid." (8 seconds)

Treatment is best started early, and all states now test newborns for sickle cell.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 21, 2011