Discovering the Unexpected: The Surprising Longevity of Those with Mild Haemophilia
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Heamophilia is a condition that makes it more challenging for your blood to clot. It can cause easier bleeding and injury. Fascinatingly, recent research discovered that people dealing with mild haemophilia may live longer than the average person. The reason behind this is that they have fewer dangerous blood clots that usually lead to heart attacks and strokes. Further research is still required, but this study suggests that there may be a curious upside to haemophilia.
The Curious Benefit of Mild Heamophilia
People with mild haemophilia in the United Kingdom live longer than the average person! The average lifespan of UK men is 82.3 years. On the other hand, people with mild haemophilia in the UK have an average lifespan of 84 years—1.7 years longer! This data is from the UK Office of National Statistics. Around 9 in 10 people dealing with this condition are men.
Blood Clotting and Heamophilia
Haemophilia is a genetic disease in which the body doesn’t make enough of specific proteins called clotting factors. Haemophilia A patients are Factor 8 (VIII) deficient, while Haemophilia B patients are deficient in Factor 9 (IX). The amount of available Factor 8 or 9 in the body determines how severe the haemophilia disease is.
- People with mild haemophilia disease still have some clotting capability. They usually only bleed after surgery or an injury. They don’t often experience spontaneous bleeding.
- In severe haemophilia disease, even minor bumps can lead to bleeding inside your muscles and joints. It can be pretty painful.
Improved Life Expectancy- Reasons
In the past, haemophiliac patients usually didn’t live as long as someone without the disease due to severe bleeding complications. However, things have changed a lot. According to the report of the UK Haemophilia Centres Doctors’ Organisation (UKHCDO), the lifespan of people with mild haemophilia is on the rise!
Dr. Michael Makris from Sheffield University suggests that since people with mild haemophilia have a lower clotting ability, they may be less likely to experience harmful clots. His study in 2022 supports this idea, showing that mild haemophilia patients have less possibility of stroke and heart disease compared with the general population. However, as Dr. Susie Shapiro from the UKHCDO indicated, further research is needed.
One important reason for the increase in life expectancy is improved healthcare. Many institutions and organizations have used healthcare technology solutions like Cellma, leading to better patient outcomes. This means patients can get their recommended treatment more quickly by having accurate and easily retrievable medical records across their health service and receiving timely reminders to attend clinics and to have tests done. These benefits, coupled with new haemophilia-specific treatments, ensure that patients with Haemophilia are treated effectively and efficiently and thus live longer happier lives.
In essence, the revelation of prolonged life expectancy in individuals with mild haemophilia highlights the dynamic nature of medical research and the potential for uncovering unexpected benefits within seemingly challenging health conditions. This discovery opens new avenues for exploring the interplay between clotting disorders and overall health, offering hope for improved outcomes and better quality of life for those affected by haemophilia.
