Hi guys☺️, it's me again, Osinda ❤️ and I'm so excited to participate in this contest. Thanks to @steemhealth and all the administrators and moderators of this noble platform most especially to @josevas217 for this intriguing contest.

Sadly, there are so many awf ul and dangerous diseases affecting many people all around the globe. We most at time think that the distance between us and these diseases is so wide to the extent that, some even neglect people who are suffering from them, but frankly speaking, we are all "potential patients."

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Today, I chose to talk about a disease called " SICKLE CELL DISEASE" of which most of us have heard of or even witnessed it occurrence. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder where an individual inherit a defective gene known as "SS" from his or her parents. Once this defective gene is inherited, it causes the individual's Red Blood Cells to go through a process which changes the shape of these Red Blood Cells from a concave shape to a crescent shape🌙.

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As soon as these cells changes their shape, their functional capacity reduces that is, they become unable to carry enough oxygen on their cell surfaces since the cell surfaces has reduced in size. This then causes inadequate supply of oxygen to the entire part of the body manifesting as frequent fatigue, severe pains especially in the joints, headache, dizziness, jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the eyes and other parts of the body), difficulty in breathing, high body temperature, general body pains and among others.

I specifically chose this disease because it can be prevented. Instead of giving birth to a child that will go through this suffering throughout his/her entire life, we can easily make things right, right from the scratch.

This dude you see right here is one of the closest friends I have and he's a victim of this disease. I've heard so many complaints of his crises and he has also told me many stories of his previous suffering. I tell you... seeing a paddy suffer like that is very devastating. So yes!...as you been told, I have a friend who's a victim of SCD.

What baffles me most of this disease is it crises and associated complications. When predisposing factors such as dehydration, infection, high altitudes, excessive stress and etc are not eliminated, the individual continuously experience "Sickle Cell Crises" which has it ultimate symptom being pain. As long as the victim experiences any of the risk factors, the crises will come and once it continuously comes, it complications such as cerebrovascular accident (stroke), impotence, osteomyelitis, priapism, and multiple organ failure are likely to set it in. And so victims are always advice to stay away from the triggers and to stay healthy always.

In conclusion, SCD can be eliminated by making sure that SCD education is spread across. Each individual is also expected to know his/her sickling status before getting married in order to avoid passing the defective gene on to his/her descendants. Check you sickling status in order to prevent a lifetime suffering for the victim, parents, family and loved ones. Thank you.

I'd like to invite @arbol and investegg to participate in this awesome contest.