Disorder bracelets, also known as awareness bracelets, are bracelets that are colored or patterned to represent various medical conditions, disabilities, diseases and disorders. These bracelets help promote understanding and awareness for these conditions. The different colors and patterns each have a specific meaning.
Autism
The autism awareness bracelet color is blue. The blue colored bracelet represents and promotes autism awareness. Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The Alzheimer’s bracelet color is purple. The purple bracelet brings Alzheimer’s disease awareness. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that destroys memory and other important mental functions. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. It currently affects more than 6 million Americans.
Diabetes
The diabetes bracelet color is blue. The blue bracelet represents diabetes awareness. Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. With diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it makes. This causes sugar to build up in the blood. The two main types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2.
Epilepsy
The epilepsy awareness color is purple. Purple epilepsy bracelets help promote understanding of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder (neurological disorder) in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness. Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with a diverse range of seizure types and control varying from person-to-person.
Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreatic cancer bracelet color is purple. The purple bracelet brings awareness to pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer begins when cells in the pancreas develop mutations in their DNA. These mutated cells grow out of control and form tumors. As these tumors grow, they can interfere with the function of the pancreas and spread to other parts of the body. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the United States.
Brain Injury
The brain injury awareness color is gray. The gray colored bracelet promotes the understanding of brain injuries. A brain injury is defined as damage to the brain resulting from external mechanical force, such as rapid acceleration or deceleration, impact, blast waves, or penetration by a projectile. Brain injuries are also caused by stroke, aneurysm, anoxia and encephalopathy. TBI and concussion are common types of brain injuries.
| Disorder | Bracelet Color |
|---|---|
| Autism | Blue |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | Purple |
| Diabetes | Blue |
| Epilepsy | Purple |
| Pancreatic Cancer | Purple |
| Brain Injury | Gray |
Down Syndrome
The Down syndrome bracelet color is yellow with colored beads. The yellow bracelet with multicolored beads brings awareness to Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. Common physical signs of Down syndrome include decreased muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm.
Sepsis
The sepsis bracelet color is purple. The purple sepsis bracelet helps promote understanding of this condition. Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It is life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its tissues and organs. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death especially if not recognized early and treated promptly.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
The ALS bracelet color is lime green. The lime green colored bracelet brings awareness to ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It causes loss of muscle control, paralysis and eventually death. There is currently no cure for ALS.
Human Trafficking
The human trafficking awareness bracelet color is red. The red bracelet promotes awareness of human trafficking. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit human beings for profit. Traffickers often target vulnerable populations like minors, migrants, displaced people, and those living in poverty. Forms of human trafficking include forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, child soldiers and sex trafficking.
Sexual Assault
The sexual assault awareness bracelet color is teal. The teal colored bracelet represents sexual assault awareness. Sexual assault refers to any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent. It includes acts such as forced sexual intercourse, sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling and attempted rape.
Eating Disorders
The eating disorder awareness bracelet color is red, white and blue. The red, white and blue bracelet promotes understanding of eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that cause unhealthy eating habits and obsession with weight and body image. They can severely impact health and lead to malnutrition, organ damage, heart problems and even death.
| Disorder | Bracelet Color |
|---|---|
| Down Syndrome | Yellow with multicolored beads |
| Sepsis | Purple |
| ALS | Lime Green |
| Human Trafficking | Red |
| Sexual Assault | Teal |
| Eating Disorders | Red, White and Blue |
Leukemia
The leukemia awareness color is orange. Orange colored bracelets help promote understanding of leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells. There are several different types of leukemia that can vary greatly in terms of treatment and prognosis.
Lyme Disease
The Lyme disease awareness bracelet color is lime green. Lime green colored bracelets represent Lyme disease awareness. Lyme disease is caused by four main species of bacteria. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system.
Hypertension
The hypertension awareness bracelet color is lime green. Lime green bracelets promote hypertension awareness. Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is a condition in which the force of blood pushing against the artery walls is too high. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. The more blood pumped and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure.
Substance Use Disorders
The substance use disorder awareness bracelet color is silver or black. The silver or black bracelet represents substance abuse disorder awareness. Substance abuse disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes significant impairment. This includes health problems, disability, and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. According to the CDC, overdose deaths involving opioids rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 70,980 in 2019.
| Disorder | Bracelet Color |
|---|---|
| Leukemia | Orange |
| Lyme Disease | Lime Green |
| Hypertension | Lime Green |
| Substance Use Disorders | Silver or Black |
Conclusion
Awareness bracelets are a great way to promote understanding of various health conditions and social causes. The different colors and patterns represent specific disorders, diseases and issues. Wearing a colored bracelet is an easy way to spark conversation, spread awareness and show support for these important causes. Increased awareness and education can help reduce stigmas, improve early detection and diagnosis, provide hope and potentially lead to better research and outcomes.
