An inherited blood disorder, haemophilia is a condition where the blood is unable to clot as it should. This means that if a person suffering from haemophilia undergoes surgery or is injured, the slow clotting could lead to fatalities. Blood contains proteins known as clotting factors; this can help to stop the bleeding. When the clotting factor present in the blood is low, it leads to excessive bleeding, which can give rise to serious health complications. The amount of clotting factor is what determines how severe this condition is.

Types and causes of haemophilia

Haemophilia is a rather rare blood disorder. It is generally passed down from parent to child. It also tends to skip females and affects males in general. This is because females inherit the XX chromosomes, one from each parent, whereas males inherit one X and one Y chromosome. If the mother has a mutated X gene, the male child is bound to inherit it. Since it does not have another X chromosome to help make the clotting factors, there is a probability that the male child will suffer from haemophilia.

In rare cases, a person can develop this condition later in life. This usually involves women who have recently given birth or elderly people. The upside to this is that the condition can be cured with proper treatment.

There are three types of haemophilia: A, B, and C, of which, A and B are the main types. Mentioned below are the types and causes of haemophilia:

• Haemophilia A
  It occurs when there is a decrease or lack in the clotting factor VIII, and it usually affects males.
• Haemophilia B

This condition occurs when there is a decrease or lack of clotting factor IX. It is less common than haemophilia A and mostly affects males.

• Haemophilia C
  Also popularly known as Rosenthal syndrome, it is caused due to the low levels of factor XI. It affects males and females, and it is predominantly diagnosed in Ashkenazi Jews.

Symptoms of haemophilia

Medical history of the patient and a few blood tests are essential to diagnose this condition. Here are a few symptoms that point towards this blood disorder:

• Spontaneous nosebleeds (these are quite difficult to stop)
• Vaccinations or shots leading to bleeding
• Bruising on the skin, in the muscles, and tissues leading to a hematoma
• Bleeding in the head of a baby right after birth
• Swelling and tightness in the joints, such as knees, elbows, and ankles due to the buildup of blood
• Passing blood in the urine or stool
• Bleeding post circumcision
• Internal bleeding in the brain

A few other symptoms include frequent headaches, seizures, unexplained mood swings, and throwing up.

Tips to prevent haemophilia

• Going for annual check-ups at haemophilia treatment centers
• Ensuring that one is up-to-date on all their vaccines
• Exercising regularly to keep the joints moving and healthy
• Taking blood tests regularly

Treatment for haemophilia

The only way to tackle haemophilia is to replace the missing clotting factors. This procedure is called replacement therapy. It is usually done by injecting the clotting factor straight into the bloodstream through a tube placed in the vein.

There are two types of factor concentrates available. These are:

• Plasma-derived factor concentrate
  Plasma is the liquid component of blood, and it is collected from blood donors. After the collection, it undergoes various processes to separate the components. One of these components is clotting factors. These are then developed into a concentrate that is injected into the vein.
• Recombinant factor concentrate
  This concentrate is genetically engineered. It does not contain human plasma or albumin and can be used safely without worrying about the transmission of bloodborne viruses.

One of the biggest risks of using factor concentrates is that some bodies react by creating inhibitors or antibodies to fight the alien elements. This makes it very difficult to treat the person in case they have another bleeding episode.

Remedies to help alleviate the symptoms of haemophilia

There are a few things one can do to avoid spontaneous bleeding episodes, protect their joints, and maintain good health:

Lifestyle changes

• Exercise regularly
  Exercising is a big help to someone who is already suffering from the disorder. Activities such as swimming, riding a bicycle, and even walking can help strengthen the joints and build muscle. Not to mention that exercising is a major contributor to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That being said, it is also important to avoid contact sports and activities.
• Live in a safe space
  It is important to get rid of things that can prove to be hazardous and aggravate one’s condition. Furniture with sharp edges, exposed nails, etc., can be quite dangerous. If one likes to cook, it is advisable that they wear protective gloves while chopping and peeling vegetables.
• Oral health
  With the foresight of not wanting to have a tooth extraction, which will eventually lead to bleeding, it is important to practice dental hygiene. This also ensures that one has healthy gums that don’t bleed easily.
• Read food labels
  Before buying any item off the shelf, it is essential that one reads food labels to ensure that they are not consuming ingredients that might worsen their condition.
• Avoid pain medications
  Some medications aggravate bleeding, which means that they’re an absolute no-no for a person with haemophilia.
• Steer clear of blood-thinners
  Certain medications prevent the blood from clotting, and these need to be avoided at all costs.

Natural remedies

• Eat a wholesome diet
  Eating a healthy diet boosts the immune system. It is important to adding food items that’ll help ease one’s condition. A wholesome diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is requisite to maintain one’s health. Obesity is a worsening problem for those with this blood disorder as it makes the joints weak. The consumption of greasy, fried food is only going to aggravate this condition.
• Eat foods that are rich in calcium and iron
  Bleeding leads to loss of iron and other vital supplements. To ensure that the one does not run out of these supplements in the body, it is important to eat leafy vegetables, iron-rich foods, such as peas and beans. To keep the bones strong, it is crucial to opt for foods that are high in calcium.
• Take unhealthy food items off the menu
  Just because one is eating healthy does not give them a free pass to eat unhealthy food items on the side. Juices, aerated drinks, full-fat dairy products, and food items containing trans-fat can really mess up the body.
• Avoid certain herbs
  Asian ginseng, garlic, ginger, willow bark, among others are not the most ideal ingredients to add to one’s diet. These can worsen the bleeding and prevent one’s platelets from clumping.
• Stay hydrated
  Water constitutes a large part of a healthy diet. One’s joints need adequate water to function normally. In addition to that, if one does require an infusion, it is easier to find a vein if they are hydrated.

Stay prepared for an emergency

Bleeding episodes can be scary, but only if one is unprepared. Here are some things that one can do to avoid such scary situations:

• First-aid
  Those suffering from haemophilia need a different kind of first aid. They do not need to go to the hospital for everything. As a matter of fact, clotting factor treatment products can be administered at home as these help treat bleeds faster.
• Opt for episodic or prophylactic care
  Episodic care is where one has to take the prescribed medication to stop a particular bleeding episode, whereas prophylactic care is to prevent the episodes from occurring again. One can opt for either based on the severity of their disorder.