Carsten Hansen: What Happens During a Sickle Cell Crisis?
Carsten Hansen, Head of LCL – North America at Rhenus Logistics, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
Why do I care? Because my wife has sickle cell disease (SCD).
About 100,000 Americans live with SCD, a rare chronic genetic condition that causes red blood cells to harden and take on a sickle shape.
This sickling can cause severe, unpredictable pain, intense fatigue, frequent infections, and more.
What causes a sickle cell crisis?
There are several things, but some of the most common are:
- Infections or fever
- Dehydration (lack of fluids)
- Extreme cold temperatures
- Physical or emotional stress
- Low oxygen levels, such as at high altitudes
What is a sickle cell crisis?
A sickle cell crisis is when stiff, crescent-shaped red blood cells get stuck in small blood vessels and block normal blood flow.
The blood usually gets stuck in joints, but it can also get stuck in organs. When that happens, an intense, pulsating pain emanates through the body, and next up is a trip to the emergency room, preferably as soon as possible, to get fluids, strong pain medication, and oxygen.
What are the effects of a sickle cell crisis?
- The blockage stops blood and therefore oxygen from reaching local tissues, muscles, and bones. Without oxygen, the tissues begin to suffer damage or die.
- Sharp, intense pain often strikes the chest, back, stomach, joints, and bones. This pain can last from a few hours to several weeks and often requires hospital care.
- Extreme Fatigue: A rapid breakdown of damaged red blood cells leads to severe anemia (low red blood cell count), causing extreme tiredness and weakness.
- Acute Chest Syndrome: Clogged blood vessels in the lungs cause chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing, which can quickly become fatal.
- Stroke: Blocked blood flow to the brain can cause sudden nerve damage and strokes.
- Organ Damage: Repeated lack of oxygen harms vital organs over time, including the spleen, liver, and kidneys.
These are just some of the effects; more can occur depending on the severity and length of the crisis.
Sickle cell is a rare disease, but it’s not uncommon. To learn more about this condition, visit the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.”
Stay updated with Hemostasis Today.
-
Nov 13, 2026, 03:21Abdul Muqtadir Abbasi: Iron Deficiency Beyond Anemia and the Importance of Finding the Cause
-
Nov 13, 2026, 03:05Marc Carrier: Aspirin vs Anticoagulants for VTE Prevention After Joint Replacement
-
Nov 13, 2026, 02:28Julia Sjöberg: ROCK1 Inhibition and Red Blood Cell Recovery After Chemotherapy
-
Nov 13, 2026, 02:07Tonie Reincke: Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis and Vascular Health
-
Nov 13, 2026, 01:52Akshita Singh: The Remarkable Process of Blood Clotting
-
Nov 12, 2026, 22:52Milka Koupenova: The Role of Platelet RIG-I in Regulating Thrombotic Responses
-
Nov 12, 2026, 22:50Arun V J: Why Has India Still Not Achieved 100% Voluntary Blood Donation?
-
Nov 12, 2026, 22:49Sickle Cell Disease Deserves to Be Prioritised in Ghana – ISCC
-
Nov 12, 2026, 22:47Samir Kumar Beura: Delighted to Serve as a Topic Editor for a Research Topic in Frontiers in Neuroscience