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Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month
Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month takes place in March of each year.
This important day recognizes bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand’s Disease. The color red awareness ribbon typically represents bleeding disorder awareness.
What are Bleeding Disorders?
The bleeding disorder community includes more than three million Americans who have hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other rare bleeding disorders. These are called rare factor deficiencies. All of these conditions prevent the blood from clotting the way it should. This, therefore, can lead to prolonged bleeding after injury, surgery, or physical trauma. Bleeding disorders can even be deadly if not treated correctly.
Learn About Bleeding Disorders During Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month
Typically, if you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding. For blood to clot, your body needs cells called platelets. It also needs proteins known as clotting factors. Sometimes clotting factors don’t work the way they should. Not knowing if your blood lacks either platelets or proteins can be dangerous. Do not take bleeding disorders lightly. Should bleeding not stop as you would expect, a hematologist may be able to help you discover the reason for it.
Types of Bleeding Disorders to Know During Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month
There are numerous bleeding disorders, but the following are the most common ones:
- Hemophilia A and B are conditions that occur when there are low levels of clotting factors in your blood. Hemophilia may cause heavy or unusual bleeding into the joints. Though hemophilia is rare, it can have life-threatening complications.
- Factor II, V, VII, X, XI or XII deficiencies are bleeding disorders related to blood clotting problems or abnormal bleeding problems.
- von Willebrand’s disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. It develops when the blood lacks von Willebrand factor, which helps the blood clot.
Another blood clotting disorder (not a bleeding disorder) is called Factor V Leiden. Factor V Leiden is an inherited blood-clotting disorder due to mutation of the blood’s Factor V protein. Factor V Leiden increases the chance of clumps of blood (clots) developing. This can be life-threatening. Women with the disorder risk developing blood clots during pregnancy or when taking the hormone estrogen. Most people never develop symptoms. However, the first indication of the disorder may be the development of a blood clot (thrombosis). Treatment may include blood-thinning medications.
Bleeding Disorders in Women and Girls – Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
About 1 in 5 women and girls have heavy menstrual bleeding.
Heavy bleeding is defined as:
- Bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days from the time bleeding starts until the time it ends.
- Flooding or gushing of blood that limits daily activities.
- Passing clots the size of a quarter or larger.
- Soaking a tampon or pad every two hours or less on the heaviest day(s).
Heavy menstrual bleeding may be a symptom of a bleeding disorder. Talk to your doctor if you think you have heavy menstrual bleeding. Track your menstrual bleeding with a chart during your monthly cycle (or period) to help determine if you are experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding, the most common symptom of a bleeding disorder in women and girls.
About 1 in 100 women and girls in the United States have a bleeding disorder, and many do not know it. Could you be at risk?
(Image: fineartamerica.com)
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