What are the signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease?
• Pain: Pain is the problem most often felt with sickle cell disease. Pain can be felt in body areas such as your back, stomach, chest, and bones. Pain can be there almost all of the time, or it can come and go. The pain can stay in one body area, or spread to other places in your body. The pain can last for minutes, hours, or up to a week. In women, pain can come more often and worse during their menstrual cycle. The pain can also be worse when a women is near menopause (when the menstrual cycle stops). • Headaches: You may often have a headache. Headaches that are new or different can be a sign of a sickle cell crisis. • Trouble breathing: You may have trouble breathing when you are doing activities, such as sports, and when you are resting. What medical problems can be caused by sickle cell disease? • Anemia: With anemia, you feel more tired than usual, and have headaches and trouble breathing. Areas of your body may hurt. Your skin color may change to white or light-colored. • Infe
