According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 3 million people in the United States are living with Sickle Cell Trait and many are unaware of their status. Each state has a Newborn Screening Program, which started in most states in the early 1990s, screens for serious diseases that require early treatment. Most people are screened at birth for conditions like:
Knowing your Sickle Cell Trait status is important to understand your risk of passing down combinations of trait types that can cause serious health problems. If both parents have a hemoglobin trait, a future child may have a hemoglobin disease, such as Sickle Cell Anemia.
Sickle Cell Trait is a life-long condition but will not change into the disease. Your healthcare provider should be aware of this condition for preventative primary care, exercise training and high altitude precautions.