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First of all, what is hemophilia?
Simply put, when we get a cut or injury anywhere on our body, the bleeding stops after a while, right? That's called blood clotting. Just like when building a wall, cement is put between the bricks to fill the gaps, some proteins in our blood come together to form a "plug" at the site of the injury and stop the bleeding. We call these proteins Clotting Factors . A person with hemophilia does not produce one or more of these Clotting Factors in the body in the required amount. Or they do not function properly. Therefore, even a small injury does not stop the bleeding and continues. Sometimes, bleeding can occur inside the body, especially inside the joints and muscles, without any injury.How does hemophilia develop? Is it hereditary?
Yes, hemophilia is a genetic disorder . That is, it is something that we inherit from our parents through genes . The defective gene for this disease is located on the X chromosome. As you know, women have two X chromosomes (XX), and men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY). Therefore, this disease is most common among men.- Women are usually only carriers of the disease. This means that even though they have the defective gene on one of their X chromosomes, they do not show symptoms because of the other healthy X chromosome. However, they can pass the defective gene on to their children.
- If a male child inherits this defective X chromosome from his mother, he will develop hemophilia because it is the only X chromosome he has.
So do you understand? Hemophilia is not something that we catch from outside like a cold . It is a condition that comes with our genes, inherited.
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Check Availability →So the main question is: Can hemophilia be prevented from being inherited?
The shortest and most honest answer to this is, "No."According to current medical science, there is no way to prevent someone from inheriting a defective gene. This means that if there is a family history of hemophilia, there is a certain chance that you or your child will inherit the gene. There is no cure or vaccine yet. But don't worry! Although we can't prevent the disease from being inherited, there are some very important things we can do.What can be done: Genetic Counseling
If someone in your family has hemophilia, the best thing you can do before you get married or plan to have a child is to seek genetic counseling .- Who should refer to this?
- If there are hemophiliacs in the family (on the mother's or father's side).
- If you are a woman and want to know if you are a carrier.
- If parents who already have a child with hemophilia are thinking about having a child.
- What happens in this consultation?
If the disease cannot be prevented, how can complications be prevented?
This is the most important part. Although we cannot prevent hemophilia from being inherited, there are many things we can do to prevent the complications and risks that it can cause. These things can help you live a healthy, normal life with hemophilia.| Preventable Complications | Things to do |
|---|---|
| Frequent bleeding and bruising | - Avoiding contact sports like rugby and boxing. - Engaging in safe exercises like swimming and walking. - If you have a small child, use protective covers on sharp-edged objects at home, and pads on knees and elbows. |
| Joint Damage | - Taking the blood clotting factors prescribed by the doctor at the right time and in the right dosage. This is the most important thing. - Doing joint strengthening exercises as directed by physiotherapy. |
| Bleeding from teeth and gums | - Maintain very good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth daily with a soft toothbrush. - Visit your dentist regularly. Before undergoing any procedure such as tooth extraction, it is imperative to inform your doctor about your hemophilia condition. |
| Bleeding caused by adverse drugs | - Completely avoid taking medications that reduce blood clotting, such as aspirin and NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, diclofenac). - Always ask your doctor before taking any medication. |
💡 Take-Home Message
- Hemophilia is a genetic disease that cannot be prevented or cured with current methods.
- If there is a history of hemophilia in your family, it is very important to seek genetic counseling before thinking about having a child.
- Although the disease cannot be prevented, many things can be done to prevent complications (bleeding, joint damage) caused by the disease.
- It is essential to take the treatment (Factor Replacement Therapy) prescribed by the doctor properly, adopt a safe lifestyle, and avoid harmful medications.
- If you have any concerns or fears about this, never keep them to yourself. Your doctorTalk openly with them and get the right advice.
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