Frequently asked question: What is a sickle cell crisis?

A sickle cell crisis is an episode where small blood vessels get clogged up, potentially leading to a lack of oxygen in body tissue, which is referred to as infarction. Especially during infections, but also in case of fever, cold, dehydration, pain, high altitude, oxygen deficiency, or stress, sickle cells can get stuck in the small blood vessels and block blood flow. The sickle cells then basically stick to the wall of small and larger blood vessels. Although these kinds of sickle cell crises can occur spontaneously, they are generally triggered by the circumstances listed above.

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Frequently asked question: What is a sickle cell crisis?

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