Haemophilia is an inherited condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot.
When you say, “an inherited condition” it means that the genetic alteration that causes haemophilia is passed down from parent to child through generations. Fathers with haemophilia will pass the gene on to their daughters but not their sons.
Women who carry the altered gene can pass the gene on to their sons and daughters. Sons with the gene will have haemophilia. Some women and girls who carry the gene may also experience bleeding problems.
Haemophilia is a blood clotting disorder where there is not enough clotting factor VIII (8) or IX (9) in the blood. A clotting factor is a protein in the blood that helps control bleeding.
Normally, when you cut yourself, substances in the blood known as clotting factors combine with blood cells called platelets to make the blood sticky. This makes the bleeding stop eventually.
These bleeds are uncomfortable and may require treatment. The person with the bleeding disorder will often be able to tell they are having a bleed before signs are visible. They get to know the way a bleed ‘feels’. These include: sensation of warmth, swelling from the affected area and bruising.
With all these, is there a single way to treat haemophilia?
Although there’s no cure for haemophilia, treatment usually allows a person with the condition to enjoy a good quality of life. If you are a sporty person since then, you can still enjoy sports. In fact, people with haemophilia will find that sport strengthens joints and muscles that help prevent bleeding to occur.
However, care is needed to be taken into consideration when choosing a sport. A rough high contact sports such as football and boxing aren’t usually recommended as they may cause bleeding. Nevertheless, it is advisable to speak first to their GP with regards to performing contact sports.
Also, genetically engineered clotting factor medications have been developed to prevent and treat prolonged bleeding.
These medications are given as an injection, the timing of which depends on how severe the condition is. It can be controlled with regular infusions of the deficient clotting factor. Injections are usually only given in milder cases in response to prolonged bleeding, whereas more severe cases are treated with regular injections to prevent bleeding.
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