Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary blood disorder that affects red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body's tissues. In individuals with sickle cell anemia, this oxygen delivery process is disrupted. Normally, red blood cells containing healthy hemoglobin are smooth, disc-shaped, and flexible, allowing them to move easily through blood vessels. However, in sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells contain an abnormal type of hemoglobin, causing them to become rigid and sticky. When these cells lose oxygen, they adopt a characteristic crescent or 'sickle' shape. These rigid, sickle-shaped cells can clump together, obstructing small blood vessels and impeding the flow of healthy, oxygen-rich blood. Furthermore, while healthy red blood cells typically live for up to 120 days, sickle cells have a significantly shorter lifespan, surviving only 10 to 20 days. Their unusual shape and rigidity also make them more susceptible to destruction by the spleen.