Why is it important to know if you have a hemoglobin trait?

A person inherits genes that produce hemoglobin from his/her parents. It is important to identify people with hemoglobin trait so they will be aware of their risk of having children with sickle cell disease.  If one parent has sickle cell trait and the other parent has normal hemoglobin, there is a 50 percent chance with each pregnancy that the child will be born with sickle cell trait.  If both parents have sickle cell trait or another hemoglobin trait, there is a 25 percent chance with each pregnancy that the child will have sickle cell disease or another hemoglobin disease.
People with sickle cell trait usually do not have any disease symptoms.  However, it is possible for a person with sickle cell trait to have complications of the disease under extreme conditions, such as:

• High altitude (flying, mountain climbing or cities with a high altitude)
• Increased pressure (scuba diving)
• Low oxygen (mountain climbing or exercising extremely hard, such as in military boot camp or when training for an athletic competition)
• Dehydration (too little water in the body)
• In addition, a person with sickle cell trait can pass the disease on to their children

     What can I do to help prevent health problems related to sickle cell trait?

• Get regular check ups
• Drink plenty of fluids
  
• Get plenty of rest
  
• Take medication and vitamins Including folic acid
• Avoid getting to hot or too cold
  

North Central Indiana Sickle Cell Initiative