Haemophilia A

Haemophilia is an inherited disorder associated with serious disorder of the blood clotting factors. Haemopholia has two forms. Haemophlia A and Haemophilia B. Haemophilia A is the most common form. This disorder is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait and affects the clotting factors VIII and IX. The gene for haemophilia A is found in the X chromosome. There are approximately 1 in 5,000 males who are affected with this genetic disorder. Males are affected by Haemophilia A more than women. This is because males have an 1-X and 1-Y chromosmome. This is unlike women who are born with two-X chromosomes. If a woman has one defect on one of her X-chromosomes, the other X-chromome may not be affected. This means that the necessary clotting factor is on the other X-chromosome. When a man has a defective X-chromome there is no other X-chromosome to carry on the clotting factors.

Males get the X-chromosome from their mother. If the mother is a silent carrier of the defective gene there will be a 50% chance of her male child being born with haemophilia. If the mother is a haemophliac herself, the male child will definitely be born a haemophiliac too. For a female to be born with this disorder she must inherit two defective X genes. One from her mother and the other one from her father and the father must also be a haemophliac. For this reason, haemophilia A is a lot more common in males than it is in females to have.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of females being born with haemophlia A. This is because more haemophiliac men are surviving to adulthood and becoming parents now thanks to improved treatments for this disease. However, it is more dangerous for a female to have this disease than men because of their monthly menstrual cycles.

Many people mistakenly think the when you have haemophilia you can bleed to death from a slight cut. This is only a myth. The cut will bleed a little longer than normal but it generally will not be fatal. The danger to a haemophliac is when one bleeds internally. The blood will remain in the body and bleed into the joints. For this reason it is also associated with arthritis and chronic pain due to the blood in the joints.

Most people who have Haemophilia A can live a relatively normal life. They do however need to take precautions when engaging in physical activities. They should also avoid any type of employment or other activities that has a high injury rate.

Improved treatments for this genetic disorder are allowing patients affected by it to live longer. Haemophiliacs can now be injected with blood clotting factors by a doctor or in the hospital. Some people with this disorder are being trained on how to do these injections on their own. Children who have this disorder are treated with doses of the blood clotting factor as a preventative measure so they can avoid bleeds.

If you have Haemophilia A you should talk to your doctor about healthy lifestyles choices and how to take steps in preventative care for your condition. Physical therapy and exercise can also be discussed for your condition as well. Physical therapy and exercises can help because these can improve muscle strength and flexibility. Physical therapy can help the recover process after joint bleeding happens. The development of strong muscles can protect and cushion the joints and even prevent future joint bleeds.

It is also important for the haemophiliac to learn and practice proper eating habits and stress management. Young patients who have this condition will also need a special management of their immunizations.

Last updated on Jan 19th, 2010 and filed under Other Conditions & Diseases. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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