Bleeding That Won’t Stop? Hemophilia Types, and Much More!
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Has it ever happened that a small bump on your knee turns into a bruise that won’t stop growing? Your mind is full of fear and doubts. So many questions are running in your head. Well, pay attention. You may be dealing with hemophilia. This is the harsh reality of people facing hemophilia symptoms. This blog post will explore different hemophilia types, causes, symptoms, and a few complications. Stay tuned as we are about to shed some light on this often misunderstood condition.
What is Hemophilia?
It is a bleeding disease that generally runs in families. It degrades the blood clotting process; hence, you can easily bleed without an obvious injury. Sometimes, you might also bleed without reason. This occurs because patients with hemophilia don’t have enough clotting factors inside their blood. The severity of the condition relies on the clotting factors present in your blood. The less clotting factor means high severity.
In a few rare cases, people may develop this condition at some point later in their life. This rarer presentation mainly affects older or middle-aged adults or females who are pregnant or recently had a baby. There are 4 main hemophilia types. Let’s learn about each of them.
Hemophilia Types
There are various hemophilia types. The 2 most common are hemophilia A and B. Type C and acquired hemophilia are rare.
What is Hemophilia Type A?
This hemophilia type occurs when your blood does not have enough of a particular blood protein, which is called clotting factor VIII (or factor 8). This is essential in clotting your blood correctly. This type occurs typically from the change in the F8 gene, which is inherited through families. The F8 gene guides your body to make clotting factor VIII.
The severity of this type differs for everyone. People with milder cases may only experience frequent nosebleeds, or their gums may bleed easily. However, you may experience internal bleeding in joints, muscles, or organs in serious cases.
What is Hemophilia Type B?
Type B is a bit less common than Type A. It is also called “Christmas Disease“. This is named after Stephen Christmas, one of the first people defined in medical reports as dealing with this hemophilia type back in 1952. This type is also popular for affecting Queen Victoria’s family and a few other European royal families. This occurs when your body lacks clotting factor IX. This protein is vital for making blood clots. The leading cause of this type of hemophilia is changes in your F9 gene, inherited through families.
In hemophilia type B, your blood does not clot quickly if you get a cut. You will go on bleeding way longer if compared to the average person.
What is Hemophilia Type C?
Type C is one of the rarest hemophilia types. It occurs when you are missing clotting factor XI. This is caused by changes in the F11 gene, which is also passed through families. People with type C don’t bleed often compared to types A and B, without a cause. Even in a few serious cases, bleeding is rarely seen in the joints or muscles. The main concern of people with this type is that it’s harder to stop bleeding after injuries, surgeries, or a few other major medical procedures.
What is Acquired Hemophilia?
This type is not passed down through families. It happens when your immune system attacks the healthy body’s tissues involved in blood clotting.
Hemophilia Symptoms
The key hemophilia symptom is extreme bleeding, along with easy bruising. Individuals dealing with hemophilia might develop huge bruises even after minor injuries or bumps, indicating bleeding below their skin. Bleedings lasts for unusually long periods after surgery, dental procedures, or even after simple incisions. In a few cases, bleeding may happen spontaneously without any apparent reason, like a nosebleed. The severity of these symptoms depends on the type and severity of the hemophilia disease.
A few other signs might include
- Joint discomfort and pain: Internal bleeding can lead to swelling, pain, and warm feelings in your joints, especially in the shoulders, hips, ankles, and hips.
- Bleeding into your brain: While this is very rare, people with severe hemophilia may experience dangerous bleeding into the brain. Signs include consistent headache, severe drowsiness, and double vision.
Hemophilia Signs in Children and Babies
Often, male babies with hemophilia show their initial signs via intense bleeding following circumcision. In other scenarios, symptoms start to appear some months after the birth. Here’s what to look out for:
- Bleeding: Kids might bleed from the mouth even after minor scrapes or bumps.
- Abnormal fussiness: Internal bleeding in the joints and muscles can be painful. If your toddler or baby seems to be often irritable, refuses to walk or crawl, and has bruised or swollen bumps on their bodies, it’s crucial to seek medical attention.
What Causes Hemophilia?
Specific genes help in creating clotting factors. The main work of these factors is to stop bleeding. Hemophilia usually happens when some issues are found in genes responsible for blood clotting. This error results in either a malfunctioning clotting factor or an insufficient amount being produced.
Interestingly, in approximately 20% of hemophilia cases, these genetic errors appear without any family history of the disorder.
How Common is Hemophilia?
Globally, around 200,000 people are diagnosed with various hemophilia types. However, recent studies discovered that this condition might be highly underdiagnosed. It is estimated that the actual number can be more than 1.1 million.
How Does a Person Get Hemophilia?
Hemophilia is a disease that mainly passes down through families. A person with hemophilia lacks sufficient blood clotting factors, proteins that help stop bleeding. This deficiency is caused by a mutation in the genes responsible for producing these clotting factors. Hemophilia is primarily inherited through the X chromosome, making males more likely to be affected. Women could be carriers of the mutated gene, potentially passing it on to their sons.
How is Hemophilia Diagnosed?
Many babies with a family record of hemophilia will get tested right after they are born. However, 1/3 of babies are not linked to this condition. Healthcare professionals may also test newborn children to see if they notice any signs. There are 2 main types of blood tests. The first kind checks if the blood clots normally. If the first test shows abnormality, the second kind shows which clotting factors are missing or low, which tells the doctor the type and severity of hemophilia. Adults can also be tested if there is a family history of the disease or if there are symptoms suggestive of hemophilia.
Conclusion
Although hemophilia sufferers might have challenges, understanding the different hemophilia types and their causes is the first step toward management. With correct diagnosis and treatment, you can live full and active lives. If you or a loved one experiences symptoms of excessive bleeding, it’s crucial to consult a medical professional.
Book an online appointment with a qualified healthcare professional on Cellmaflex for further guidance and support. Find a specialist near you and take control of your health journey today.
