Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders.
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen.
Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.”
