Viewpoint: Sickle Cell Disease

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. Present at birth, SCD consists of a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. The affects of sickle cell disease can be devastating with symptoms consisting of severe pain, hand & foot syndrome, anemia, acute chest syndrome, vision loss, stroke and in many instances death. It is particularly common among those whose ancestors come from sub-Saharan Africa, Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere, Saudi Arabia, India, and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.