Columnist Oluwatosin Adesoye, a doctor, sorts through the difference between sickle cell anemia and sickle cell disease — and more.

The misshapen cells tend to block blood flow in the vessels, leading to frequent pain episodes, infections, and damage to organs.

The most severe form of sickle cell disease, sickle cell anemia causes red blood cells to be sickle- or crescent-shaped, rather than a disc. That distortion causes the cells to get stuck in the ...

The hallmark symptom of sickle cell anemia is pain, particularly episodes of sudden pain, sometimes called sickle cell crises.