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Sickle Cell Crises
In a person with normal hemoglobin molecules, the red blood cells are disc-shaped, which allows them to flow freely through blood vessels.
In a person with sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin is sickle-shaped. This causes the red blood cells to become sickle-shaped and sticky. When these abnormal red blood cells flow through small blood vessels, they get stuck more easily and disrupt normal blood flow. The result is painful episodes called crises.