Bleeding disorders

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Bleeding Disorders

Bleeding disorders (pronunciation: /ˈbliːdɪŋ dɪsˈɔːdəz/) are a group of conditions that affect the body's ability to clot, or coagulate, blood. This can lead to prolonged bleeding after injury, surgery, or physical trauma.

Etymology

The term "bleeding disorder" is derived from the English words "bleed," meaning to lose blood, and "disorder," meaning an irregularity or disturbance in the body's normal function.

Types of Bleeding Disorders

There are several types of bleeding disorders, including:

  • Hemophilia: A genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding longer after an injury, easy bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain.
  • Von Willebrand disease: A genetic disorder caused by missing or defective von Willebrand factor (VWF), a clotting protein. VWF binds factor VIII, a key clotting protein, and platelets in blood vessel walls, which help form a platelet plug during the clotting process.
  • Thrombocytopenia: A condition characterized by low levels of platelets, the cells that help blood clot.
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): A condition in which blood clots form throughout the body's small blood vessels. These blood clots can reduce or block blood flow through the blood vessels, which can damage the body's organs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of bleeding disorders can vary, but may include:

  • Easy bruising
  • Prolonged bleeding from cuts
  • Excessive bleeding after surgery or dental work
  • Unexplained nosebleeds
  • Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding in women

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of bleeding disorders typically involves blood tests to check for clotting factors. Treatment can include medication to replace missing blood clotting factors, blood transfusions, and other supportive care.

See Also

External links

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