Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which a person lacks or has low levels of certain proteins which are called as “clotting factors” and the blood does not clot properly, this leads to excessive bleeding. There are few types of clotting factors, and these will work with platelets to help the blood clot. Platelets are small blood cells which form in your bone marrow.Hemophilia is a rare condition in which the blood does not clot properly. It mostly affects men.
Signs and symptoms of hemophilia vary, depending on your level of clotting factors. If your blood clotting factor level is mildly reduced, you may bleed only after surgery or trauma. If your deficiency is severe, you may experience spontaneous bleeding.
Signs and symptoms of spontaneous bleeding will include
- Unexplained and excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries, or after surgery or dental work
- Unusual bleeding after vaccinations
- Nose bleeds without a known cause
- In infants, unexplained irritability
- Many large or deep bruises
- Pain, swelling or tightness in your joints
- Blood in your urine or stool.
Causes
Inheritance: Hemophilia is caused by defects or mutations in your genes that make proteins called clotting factors. These proteins function in coagulation, which is a step in the blood clotting process when a protein net is formed around torn blood vessels to stop your bleeding. These clotting factors help cells in the blood called platelets which stick together at the site of an injury.
Patients with hemophilia disease have mutations in genes that contain instructions for making clotting factors. There are two genes on the X chromosome, which make the clotting factor proteins. Mutations in these genes may result in the reduced levels of blood clotting factors or may completely eliminate clotting factor activity. In either case, blood clots do not form properly in patients with hemophilia.
About 80% of inherited hemophilia cases are caused by a mutation in F8 and 20% will have a mutation in F9. Patients with F8 mutations are designated as having hemophilia A and patients with F9 mutations are designated as having hemophilia B.
Random occurrence: About 70% of cases of hemophilia are inherited, meaning that a defective blood clotting factor gene was transmitted from a parent to the child. However, about 30% of cases of hemophilia are not inherited but instead, result from a spontaneously arising mutation in the egg or in early embryonic development.
How to Prevent hemophilia?
As of now, there is only certain strategy to prevent hemophilia in someone who inherits a defective gene. People with a family history of hemophilia can talk to a genetic counselor to learn their risk of passing hemophilia to their children. A simple blood test is usually all that is necessary.
Blood test with hemophilia will help you to prevent episodes of bleeding by avoiding injuries, accidents and excessive strain on your joints. An infant with hemophilia should have appropriate padding in his crib or playpen, and he should be supervised as he learns to walk. Children with the condition should avoid contact sports and physical education activities that have a high risk of trauma.
People with hemophilia must avoid aspirin and other medications which affect blood clotting. Hemophilia patients may need a blood transfusion at some point, you should be immunized against hepatitis A and B, diseases that can be carried in blood products.
Home remedies for hemophilia
Exercise regularly
Physical activities such as swimming, bicycle riding, and walking can build up muscles while protecting joints.
Avoid few sports
Avoid these sports such as hockey, football, and wrestling because they are not safe for people with hemophilia.
Avoid certain pain medications
Drugs which can aggravate bleeding include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Instead, use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), which is a safe alternative for your mild pain relief.
Avoid blood-thinning medications
Few medications which prevent blood from clotting include heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix) and prasugrel (Effient).
Practice good dental hygiene
The goal is to prevent tooth extraction, which will lead to excessive blood releasing or bleeding.
Protect yourself and your child from injuries which could cause bleeding. Kneepads, elbow pads, helmets and safety belts all may help you to prevent injuries from falls and other accidents. Keep your home free of furniture with sharp corners.
For hemophilia apart from home remedies, getting quick treatment for bleeding is essential. Quick treatment can limit damage to your body. If you and your child have hemophilia, you should learn how to recognize signs of bleeding.
