It’s an inherited disease that impacts the red blood cells and often times leaves someone feeling terribly lethargic and in a lot of pain.
Medical experts continue to learn more about sickle cell disease that largely plagues the African American community.
WTMJ’s Melissa Barclay spoke with Dr. Ted Love who’s an African American trailblazer helping advance the treatment of of the genetic disorder.
“When I was a young kid in the 1960’s and 70’s, sickle cell individuals in the U.S. died often before there 20th birthday and now that’s very unusual in the United States,” said Love.
Treatments for this disease have vastly changed over the decades.
“Now we need the next wave of innovations to really try to drive this into being a well managed chronic disease for which you can live and not die.”
Hear more of the conversation with Dr. Love by clicking on the link above.
