11 Genetic Diseases You Can Easily Get Tested For
By
I. A.
July 27, 2021
Picture by Kateryna Kon at Shutterstock
9. Sickle Cell Anemia
Normally, the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body are round so they can move properly. But with sickle cell anemia, they are shaped like sickles. They are rigid and they can easily get stuck in blood vessels, meaning that the blood flow and oxygen are interrupted in certain parts of the body.
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease, caused by an abnormal hemoglobin mutation. The most common disease is the Hemoglobin SS in which a child inherits the hemoglobin S from both parents.
It’s important to know that in order to have the disease, both your parents need to have it. If only one parent has it, you are susceptible to being a carrier.
