Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic condition that affects your red blood cells. Although SCA can affect anyone, Black people are at a higher risk for this disease.

SCA belongs to a group of conditions called sickle cell disease (SCD). If you have SCD, there is a mutation in one of your genes — specifically, one that provides instructions on how to make the protein called hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is one of the key components of your red blood cells. It’s responsible for capturing oxygen, which red blood cells deliver to all tissues and organs in your body. A mutation in hemoglobin makes red blood cells less effective in capturing and delivering oxygen.

If you have SCA, both copies of your hemoglobin gene carry a mutation. If only one copy is affected, you have a less severe condition called sickle cell trait (SCT).

To learn more about Sickle Cell Anemia, log onto www.theregoesmyhero.org or call 443.339.4376.