World Hemophilia Day 2018 tomorrow: World Federation of Hemophilia to promote and encourage ‘Sharing Knowledge’

World Hemophilia Day is an opportunity to help people with bleeding disorders live healthier, longer and more productive lives by educating and empowering them through knowledge sharing.

5 precautions every hemophiliac should take

Hemophilia is a genetically transmitted disease where a person’s body does not or cannot produce a particular component that is responsible for the clotting of blood — which can have disastrous side effects and can even be fatal. While hemophiliacs can live a normal life, there are a few things they have to take care of. Here are the precautions every hemophiliac should take.

Avoid having NSAIDs: Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) thin a person’s blood by interfering with the stickiness of platelets — making bleeding disorders worse. According to the World Federation for Hemophilia common drugs such as aspirin, Clopidogrel, Dexibrufen and Diclofenac should be avoided by people with hemophilia. A good alternative is paracetamol.

Care for their joints: Hemophiliacs not only bleed externally but also internally, which can injure the knee, ankle and elbow joints. If there is continuous bleeding in these areas, it can damage the cartilage and the bones in the joint. This can lead to chronic arthritis and disability. Another joint that is commonly affected is the groin. Caring for these areas by exercising them regularly and getting checkups can go a long way in staying safe.

Don’t shun exercise: One might think that for people with hemophilia exercising or playing sports can be extremely dangerous. But this is not true. If done with caution, any form of exercise can benefit them. This is because exercise helps strengthen muscles, improve concentration and coordination. Hemophiliacs should choose the form of activity carefully. Swimming, cycling, walking and even playing a sport like badminton are safe and healthy for them; whereas contact sports such as football and boxing are best avoided.

Carry identification at all times: They should always carry a card mentioning the fact that they suffer from hemophilia, what type of treatment they are on, the drugs they have been prescribed or are allergic to etc. This helps medical professionals treat a patient in the case of an emergency.

Travel with care: Before a hemophiliac travels it is essential that they carry all their medication, a list of when they have to have their medication and what emergency medication they need. They should also read up and store information of all the hemophilia clinics in and around their place of travel. They must also check if the medications they are on are allowed in the country they are travelling to, including the amount they can carry and what documents they may require for the same.