Sickle cell trait is a blood condition that runs in families. People with sickle cell trait don't have sickle cell disease and won't get it. But they can pass a copy of the sickle cell gene to their children someday.

People with sickle cell trait can have health problems, but they don't happen often. Know what to watch for and how to stay well.

Keep in touch with your health care providers:

• Go to all your checkups.
• Tell all your health care providers that you have sickle cell trait.

Stay active safely:

• Drink lots of water before, during, and after exercise.
• Rest often when working out hard.
• Stop exercising and drink water if you:
  • feel exhausted
  • have pain or weakness in your muscles
  • feel overheated
  • have fast breathing
• Wear eye protection when doing sports. (Eye injuries may not heal well when you have sickle cell trait.)

You:

• have blood in your pee
• have an eye injury
• feel very exhausted after exercising
• have more muscle pain than usual after being active

How did I get sickle cell trait? You inherited sickle cell trait from your parents. This means you were born with one sickle cell copy of the beta-globin gene and one normal copy. The beta-globin gene tells your body how to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cells that carries oxygen.

What does it mean to "know your status"? "Know your status" means to know if you have sickle cell trait. Many people don't know if they have sickle cell trait. It's easy to get tested and knowledge is power.

Is blood in my pee a problem? Sometimes children or adults with sickle cell trait have blood in their pee. It's usually from changes in the kidneys and not serious. But rarely it can happen because of a type of kidney cancer. If you have blood in your pee, talk to your parent or health care provider.

Can people with sickle cell trait have kids someday? Yes, people with sickle cell trait can have kids. There's a chance of passing on sickle cell disease, depending on their partner's status. Ask your health care provider or a genetic counselor to find out how sickle cell trait runs in families.