A bleeding disorder is a defect in the body's blood clotting system. Clotting factors are missing or do not work as they should.

Hemophilia

• Hemophilia is a sex-linked blood clotting disorder that causes excessive bleeding to occur spontaneously.


• Hemophilia may be mild, moderate or severe.


• Individuals with hemophilia bleed longer not faster than people with normal clotting factors.


• A misconception is that people with hemophilia will bleed to death from a minor cut or injury.


• The most conventional method of treatment of bleeding disorders is intravenous infusion of factor.

von Willebrand Disease

• Hemophilia & von Willebrand diseases are inherited, however both can result from a genetic mutation with no prior family history.


• A deficient blood protein call von Willebrand factor causes von Willebrand disease.


• von Willebrand disease is the most common bleeding disorder. It can be passed down from either parent.


• Often, people do not realize they may have this disease until another family member is diagnosed, as it is usually a mild disorder with few symptoms if any.