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    Family Health History: A Gift That Keeps On Giving

    What is sickle cell trait?

    Sickle cell trait is not a disease; it is inherited from a person’s parents. People who inherit one sickle cell gene and one normal gene have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait usually don’t have any symptoms of sickle cell disease and may not know it runs in their family.

    Why should you know your sickle cell trait status?

    It’s important to know your sickle cell trait status so that you can also know your chances of having a child with sickle cell disease; or be better prepared to take measures to protect your health. Sickle cell trait is identified with a simple blood test by a doctor.

    Talk to your family about whether you have a family history of sickle cell trait. Learning your family’s health history can help you and your doctor make better decisions about how to manage your health and healthcare.

    If you have questions about sickle cell trait, check out the following resources:

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    The Top Healthiest Foods…EVER [PHOTOS]
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    A bunch of spinach leaves One whole and one sliced sweet potato A bowl of broccoli A banana Oranges Apricots A bowl filled with red kidney beans A piece of cooked salmon on a plate Two pieces of raw turkey breast Half of an avocado A green plastic spoon filled with brown rice Three tomatoes in water A bowl of oatmeal with three blueberries A raw steak on a white plate A glass container of yogurt sitting on a blue-green cotton napkin beside a white spoon Pieces of dark chocolate dusted with cocoa powder A bowl of fresh eggs A bowl of vegetable soup Watermelon slices Red Bell Pepper Garlic A bowl of cherries Half of a red onion sitting on a cutting board beside a knife A spoonful of carrots Almonds A green olive sitting in a glass dish of olive oil A close-up image of fresh blueberries A spoonful of peanut butter A sliced mango splashing into water A glass mug of green tea sitting on a glass saucer A pear wrapped with a yellow tape measure Pistachios A glass of water A bowl of strawberries A skillet filled with kale A container of black beans A glass of red wine against a black background Three tuna slices A piece of catfish with potatoes Green beans on a cutting board A grilled chicken breast and asparagus on a plate A bowl of blackberries Cracked walnuts Raw wheatgrass, a glass of wheatgrass juice and a pitcher of water A wooden basket of cranberries A clear dish of flax seed oil beside a pile of flax seeds Cabbage Mushroom Pomegranate seeds
    By Dr. Althea Grant, BDO Sickle Cell Expert