The Lifelong Bleeding Disorder Known As Hemophilia

We all need blood in our bodies to survive. Those who suffer from hemophilia have a lifelong bleeding blood disorder that stops blood from clotting the right way. They don't have the clotting...

We all need blood in our bodies to survive. Those who suffer from hemophilia have a lifelong bleeding blood disorder that stops blood from clotting the right way. They don’t have the clotting factor, which is a protein in the blood that controls bleeding. When a person has an injury and is a hemophiliac they will bleed faster and bleed longer than others. The danger in having hemophilia is that they can have uncontrolled internal bleeding that starts spontaneously or can result from an injury. They can also bleed into joints and muscles, which will result in stiffness, pain, and even severe joint damage, disability, and (gulp) death. This is a serious blood disorder.

Who is at risk for developing hemophilia?

The blood disorder, hemophilia is an inherited disorder affecting mainly males. The disorder is not contagious, so you can’t get it by being around someone who has it.

A daughter can carry the hemophilia gene if the father has hemophilia but the mother does not but any brothers will not have hemophilia. Those with a family history of hemophilia are at risk for genetically being disposed for the disease too, depending on whether or not one or both of the biological parents have the hemophilia gene.

The signs that hemophilia may be present are when the individual presents with large bruises, bleeds into joints or muscles, especially the ankles, elbows, or knees, have sudden bleeding internally without suffering trauma to explain the bleeding, and when they do suffer a cut, tooth removal or surgery, or have a traumatic event they have prolonged bleeding.

Believe it not, there are effective treatments for hemophilia, but there is no cure yet. One treatment is to replace the missing clotting factor by injecting a product that contains the factor. When enough clotting factor reaches the affected area, the bleeding will stop.

Those with hemophilia can lead normal lives as long as they receive proper treatment. Children with severe cases of hemophilia and do not receive proper treatment usually die young. Approximately only 25% of the approximately 400,000 individuals worldwide with hemophilia receive adequate treatment.

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