Blood clotting (also known as coagulation) is how the body controls bleeding — it changes blood from a liquid to a solid. Proteins in the blood work together to stop bleeding. But if a person is missing or lacking in certain proteins, they may have a bleeding disorder.
The term “bleeding disorder” covers a wide range of problems that all have one result: poor clotting and prolonged bleeding. Your doctor may refer to a bleeding disorder as coagulopathy, abnormal bleeding, or clotting disorder.
Other things can cause bleeding disorders besides clotting protein deficiency:
- Defects in the blood vessels
- Abnormalities in blood platelets
- Illnesses (like severe liver disease)
- Use of anticoagulant drugs
- Inherited disorders
- Leukemia and some other forms of cancer
- Bone marrow issues
- Immune system reactions/allergic reactions
A person with a bleeding disorder will often bleed longer than a person with normal clotting factors. Bleeding disorders can range from mild to severe. One myth associated with bleeding disorders is that a person with a bleeding disorder can bleed to death from a minor injury. They can’t. However, losing large amounts of blood CAN be a serious health threat.
Symptoms of a bleeding disorder can include: excessive bleeding and bruising, frequent nose bleeds, abnormal menstrual bleeding. People with a bleeding disorder are at risk for anemia (low red blood cell count) thanks to chronic blood loss. Other health risks associated with bleeding disorders include:
- Vision loss due to bleeding into the eye
- Neurological or psychiatric issues
- Scarring or joint damage due to bleeding into the joints
- Complications from severe blood loss
At this time, there is no cure for bleeding disorders. Currently available treatments include replacing missing blood clotting factors. Safety is a huge concern, as diseases like HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Researchers are looking at other treatments, including gene therapy and the use of completely artificial blood clotting factors.