2. True or False: It’s still important to know whether or not you have sickle cell trait even if you don’t have any symptoms.

TRUE
People with sickle cell trait usually do not have any of the symptoms of the disease. However, it is possible for a person with sickle cell trait to have complications of the disease under extreme conditions, such as:
 

Fast Fact
People who inherit one sickle cell gene and one normal gene have the sickle cell “trait”.
  • 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

 

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