Hemophilia is an inherited blood disorder in which individuals are not born with a “clotting factor” that helps to heal critical injuries. This is why hemophilia patients bleed for a longer time externally and internally. According to the National Hemophilia Foundation, there are two main types of hemophilia – A and B. The third type, known as hemophilia C, is an extremely rare condition. Each of the types is associated with a specific factor.

Hemophilia A

Hemophilia A is linked to the deficiency or defective Factor VIII. It is typically passed down from parents to children; however, one-third of cases had no prior family history. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this type occurs in one in about 5600 births. The X chromosome carries the genes of hemophilia. There are two X chromosomes inherited by females, one from their mother and one from the father (XX). Males inherit one X chromosome from their mother and one Y chromosome from their father (XY). This means that the chances of males getting hemophilia from their mothers are higher. Since females have XX chromosomes, even if they carry the hemophilia gene from the mother, most likely they will inherit healthy chromosomes from their father, thus making their chances significantly less. Hemophilia A has three stages depending on the ratio of Factor VIII clotting protein in the blood. Mild hemophilia A has 6-30%, moderate has 1-5% and severe has less than 1%.

Hemophilia B

Hemophilia B is linked to the deficiency or defective Factor IX. It is also called the Christmas disease and is four times less common than hemophilia A. Genetics of this type are the same as mentioned earlier. A female who inherits hemophilia chromosomes is called a carrier since she can pass it on to her children. Three severity stages are the same as hemophilia A. Symptoms of mild hemophilia B are typically known only after a serious injury, trauma, or tooth extraction. Women may experience menorrhagia or heavy menstrual bleeding. They may also undergo hemorrhage after childbirth. In moderate hemophilia B, bleeding may sometimes occur without any reason. In cases of severe hemophilia B, individuals may experience frequent spontaneous bleeding in joints and muscles. The severity symptoms of hemophilia A and B are almost the same.

Hemophilia C

Hemophilia C is caused due to Factor XI deficiency. First recognized in 1953, approximately one in 100,000 people are affected by this type of hemophilia. The genetics of hemophilia C is different from the previous two types. This condition is inherited when both parents pass on the defective hemophilia gene to the child. This means both men and women are affected by it equally. Factor XI is an important clotting element since it creates a protein called thrombin, which gets converted to fibrin. It helps keep blood clots in place. In hemophilia C, joint and muscle bleeds, nosebleeds, or soft tissue bleeds are common.

Nutrition and hemophilia
When it comes to the treatment and management of hemophilia, nutrition plays an important role. It becomes vital to consume certain foods for better management of the disease. Doctors recommend that leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are a good source of fiber. Increasing intake of whole grain foods like whole wheat, bran, brown rice suppresses appetite and improves cholesterol levels. This helps in regulating blood sugar levels, leading to effective management of hemophilia symptoms.

Medications
In order to alleviate hemophilia A symptoms, one can use medications like HEMLIBRA. If you’re looking for HEMLIBRA hemophilia info, you can check the same with your doctor. The medication can be administered through a subcutaneous injection. Typically, the injection can be given once every week during the loading phase. After that, it can be administered once every week, fortnightly, or once in every four weeks.

Hemophilia B can be treated with medications like BeneFix. The medicine is administered intravenously with a solution of sodium chloride. BeneFix works by replacing the factor IX that enables blood clotting, thereby preventing excessive bleeding. It is important to discuss potential side effects with your doctor for better management of the disease.