ELI5, how does sickle cell anemia cause pain?

Question

ELI5, how does sickle cell anemia cause pain?

In: 2

Answer 1

Basically the normal shape of red blood cells allow them to easily pass each other and flow through blood vessels. In sickle cell patients, the cells are sickle shaped (hence the name) and they aren’t able to easily flow through vessels causing them to get stuck, block blood flow and cause pain.