Effective ways to manage hemophilia and its symptoms

Effective ways to manage hemophilia and its symptoms

Boden Lam

Bleeding following minor injuries is generally stopped by proteins in the blood, known as clotting factors. However, sometimes people develop a genetic bleeding disorder where the blood loss does not stop quickly due to low levels of either factor VIII (8) or factor IX (9). This condition is known as hemophilia and may lead to several health complications if left untreated. Therefore, here are the various methods to treat and manage hemophilia.

Therapies
The primary treatment for hemophilia requires replacing the clotting factor through a specific form of therapy. The clotting factor is administered through a tube into the vein and helps treat an ongoing bleeding episode. This therapy may also be given to hemophilia patients at home regularly or occasionally to curb recurring bleeding episodes.

Other therapies may also help reduce symptoms of hemophilia:
Clot-preserving treatments help prevent clots from breaking down.
Bleeding caused by minor cuts can be reduced by applying pressure and a bandage to the affected region. One can use an ice pack to reduce the symptoms for small areas that bleed under the skin. Moreover, minor oral bleeding may slow down by swirling ice pops in the mouth.
Physical therapy is recommended to reduce the signs and symptoms when internal bleeding has damaged joints. However, severe damage to the joints may require surgery.

Home remedies
Apart from the therapies for hemophilia, one can also practice home remedies to prevent excessive bleeding and protect the joints.

Regular exercise
Exercise is known to help improve our overall health in several ways, including in people with hemophilia. Activities like swimming, bicycle riding, and walking help build muscles and protect the joints. This is possible because staying fit can reduce the stress applied to the joints (a common concern in older individuals). Exercise also helps improve balance and coordination, which may also help prevent accidental falls. Moreover, regular exercise may also help build energy levels and reduce symptoms of hemophilia like fatigue. However, one must avoid intensive activities like rugby, boxing, soccer, and motorcycling as these may increase the risk of fractures.

Monitoring oral health
Patients with hemophilia need to maintain dental care and mouth hygiene regularly. This is because poor oral hygiene can result in a build-up of dental tartar and gum disease. These factors may increase the probability of gum bleeds in hemophilia patients and speed up the decay process. Therefore, one must ensure that they brush and floss their teeth regularly. Moreover, setting regular appointments with the dentist can help diagnose and identify potential dental problems and develop a treatment plan before the condition worsens.

Eating healthy foods
The foods one eats can also play a significant role in managing their condition. Eating foods like lean red meat, liver, poultry, and leafy green vegetables can help improve the iron levels in the body. Barley, oats, whole wheat, brown rice, and bran will help lower cholesterol and manage blood glucose levels. Furthermore, low-fat dairy products like skimmed milk will also help nourish the body with minerals, vitamins, and calcium while reducing unhealthy fats.

Injury prevention in kids
Kids often suffer significantly more injuries than adults because of the time spent playing indoors and outdoors. This is an especially worrying sign for those with hemophilia. Therefore, when a child goes out to play, one should ensure they wear elbow pads, knee pads, safety belts, and knee pads to reduce the risk of injuries and other accidents. When indoors, parents must reduce the amount of sharp furniture and install grippy flooring so that the home is safer for kids. Furthermore, installing a handlebar to hold on to while stepping in and out of the shower may curb the risk of accidental falls in the shower.

Alternative remedies for hemophilia
A permanent cure for hemophilia is still in the works. So while treatments and home remedies can help reduce the symptoms, one can try alternative remedies to improve how one copes with the condition.

Seek support
People with hemophilia should sign up to support groups in the area. Here individuals can express their feelings about their condition and listen to others affected by similar health complications. By joining a support group, one can get the emotional and practical support they need to cope with their symptoms.

Education
Similar to joining a support group, one can look for credible resources posted on the internet related to hemophilia. The information can help them better understand their situation and learn ways to manage their physical and mental well-being. The individual can also share this information with friends and family members so that close ones are well-versed in the situation. Keeping close members in the loop is also helpful so that they can help the individual in case of an emergency.

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