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Health > Conditions > B > Bleeding disorders                           
Read more... Bleeding disordersBleeding disorders reduce the ability of the blood to ‘clot’. This means that when a person bleeds, they bleed for longer (but not any faster). For blood to clot, the body needs platelets (the smallest types of blood cell) and proteins called coagulation (clotting) factors. When you cut yourself, the platelets in the blood crowd around the cut to block it off. This makes the coagulation factors and platelets react so they form a clot. The clot blocks up the cut and keeps out infection until the skin heals. People with a bleeding disorder are missing one or more coagulation factors, or their platelets are not working properly. Bleeding disorders are actually more common than many people realise. For example, an estimated one per cent of the population are affected by Von Willebrand’s disease but often in a very minor way. What causes bleeding disorders and who can get them?There are lots of causes of bleeding disorders. Some are present at birth and are inherited but others happen as part of another illness. The most well known type of bleeding disorder is haemophilia This is a condition that causes bleeding because one particular coagulation factor (either factor VIII or factor IX) is missing from birth. Usually it affects boys only. Von Willebrand’s disease is an inherited bleeding disorder. It is caused by the body not having any, or enough of, a coagulation factor called Von Willebrand factor. It’s the most common type of bleeding disorder and can affect people of all ages and races. Bleeding disorders can also be caused by:
What are the signs and symptoms of bleeding disorders?If you have one or more of the following symptoms, this may indicate you have a bleeding disorder:
How are bleeding disorders normally diagnosed and treated?Diagnosing bleeding disorders is essential to prevent you from bleeding dangerously in the future (this might be after an accident, surgery, a dental procedure or, if you’re female, childbirth). If you have bleeding symptoms, your doctor will organise blood tests that specifically check the ability of your blood to clot. These tests are usually repeated several times to make sure that the diagnosis is correct. Bleeding disorders are treated depending on the exact nature of the disorder and require specialist expertise. Haemophilia requires treatment with replacement clotting factors by injection. A medicine called Tranexamic acid can be used in all bleeding disorders to reduce minor bleeding or after minor surgery. If you have a bleeding disorder you will be referred to a specialist centre for assessment and advice. When to ask for medical helpIf you bleed heavily following a nosebleed or minor cut, you should seek medical help. If your periods are very heavy then it’s also a good idea to speak to your GP. What’s going to help?If you have a bleeding disorder you should avoid aspirin and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – like Ibuprofen). Take care because many cold remedies and painkillers contain these drugs. You also need to make your condition known to medical staff and plan ahead if you are having a surgical or dental procedure. If you have a severe disorder you may wish to wear a medic alert tag in case of emergencies. Can bleeding disorders be prevented?Many bleeding disorders are inherited and you should discuss the inheritance with your specialist doctor before starting a family in the future. Looking forwardA bleeding disorder nowadays very rarely affects life expectancy. Once you have a proper diagnosis your specialist centre will give you a better picture of how it will affect you in the future.
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