It can be helpful to think about the impact of smoking, drugs and alcohol when you have sickle cell. You can talk to your team to find out more information and for support. It is recommended that if you have sickle cell you avoid both alcohol and smoking. Alcohol can cause you to become dehydrated which has an impact on your blood flow and can cause your blood cells to stick together more. Smoking can trigger a serious lung condition called acute chest syndrome which is a complication of sickle cell. If you are concerned about the impact of alcohol or smoking on your health you can talk to your team for support.

Drug and alcohol misuse is a complex issue and can impact both your mental health and physical health. You can find support information here alongside from your team.