5 Common Questions About Bleeding Disorders

March doesn’t just mark the beginning of Spring—it’s also Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month (#BleedingDisordersAwarenessMonth). This annual health observance brings together organizations and individuals to help increase awareness and share stories of people living with bleeding disorders.

Want to learn more about bleeding disorders? Here are answers to 5 common questions:

Q: What are bleeding disorders?

A: Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that affect the body's ability to form blood clots. These disorders can lead to heavy and prolonged bleeding, often after an injury or surgery. Bleeding can also begin on its own and may be difficult to stop, especially from areas such as the nose or the uterus.

Q: How do people get bleeding disorders?

A: A bleeding disorder can be inherited (meaning that you are born with the disorder), or it can be acquired (meaning it develops during your lifetime). Acquired bleeding disorders are more common than inherited bleeding disorders and generally are seen in individuals who have chronic diseases that put them at risk for increased bleeding such as liver disease, an immune disorder or due to a medication effect, Examples of inherited bleeding disorders are hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease (VWD), among others.

Q: What are the symptoms of bleeding disorders?

A: Symptoms can vary depending on the type of bleeding disorder and its cause. Sometimes they may be obvious soon after a child is born, or they may not be noticed until adulthood. Bleeding disorder symptoms can range from mild (such as sporadic nosebleeds) to severe (such as a stroke from bleeding in the brain). Some common symptoms can include blood in urine or stool, excessive bleeding, large bruises, and heavy menstrual periods.

Q: How are bleeding disorders diagnosed?

A: Healthcare providers can diagnose bleeding disorders by looking at a patient’s symptoms, risk factors, medical and family history, a physical exam, and diagnostic tests. Once the provider identifies the type of bleeding disorder, they work with the patient to develop a treatment plan that fits the patient’s medical needs.

Q: How are bleeding disorders treated?

Bleeding disorders are all very treatable. Treatment depends on the type of disorder and may include medicines, as well as factor replacement therapy, which is a type of treatment where clotting factors (made from blood donations or made in a lab) are given to replace the missing clotting factor in a patient’s blood, or new transformative therapy such as gene therapy to correct the inherited bleeding disorder. Some patients may not need treatment if their bleeding disorder causes few or no symptoms.

A: If you or someone you know is living with a bleeding disorder, it is important to:

• Follow a treatment plan.

• Receive routine care.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Learn how to lower the risk of complications.

Learn more about bleeding disorders by visiting the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Blood Diseases & Disorders Education Program and find organizations focused on bleeding disorders that are part of our Blood Health Network.

Follow and engage with us here on LinkedIn, and share our social media resources throughout this month and all year long.

Share in the comments how you plan to help increase awareness about bleeding disorders. We would love to hear your story!