A medical disorder in which the blood does not clot properly, hemophilia is mostly diagnosed in males. When one sustains an injury, there are certain clotting factors in the blood that work with platelets to stop the bleeding. If an individual is suffering from hemophilia, they produce lower amounts of either clotting factor IX or clotting factor VIII than people without the disease. Therefore, they tend to bleed for a longer amount of time after an injury or a surgical procedure, making the condition dangerous.

The life expectancy of a patient with the condition varies based on the kind of treatment they are receiving. With proper treatment for hemophilia, the life expectancy is approximately ten years less than that of the average male without the disease.

The good news is that there are a few lifestyle changes and home remedies that an individual can adopt to avoid excessive bleeding or at the very least, minimize its chances.

1. Avoid certain pain medicines
Aspirin and ibuprofen, among others, are medicines that may aggravate bleeding. It is advisable to instead use safer alternatives that provide mild pain relief. One can also ask their physician for alternative medication.

2. Exercise regularly
To build up muscles that protect joints, one can take up bicycle riding, swimming, and walking. For patients of hemophilia, is it necessary to avoid contact sports like wrestling, football, and hockey.

3. Practice good dental hygiene
The aim of this measure is to prevent the need for tooth extraction, as a procedure like that can result in excessive bleeding.

4. Avoid blood-thinning medicines
There are certain medications that stop the blood from clotting immediately after a wound and should be avoided. These include warfarin, heparin, prasugrel, and clopidogrel.

5. Wear adequate protective gear
If one’s child suffers from hemophilia, they can practice preventive measures to protect them from injuries. To this end, one can utilize elbow pads, knee pads, safety belts, and helmets. These can help prevent accidents such as minor falls and consequent bleeding. Also, it is advisable to ensure that the house does not have a lot of furniture with sharp corners to be safe.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for hemophilia. In the future, gene therapy may be possible to help battle this disorder either completely or partially. Research into this is currently underway.

Some may suggest a liver transplant as a treatment for hemophilia. This is because coagulation factors that cause blood clotting are created by the cells in this organ. The downside to this is that risks of surgery are serious. Additionally, even if the transplant is successful, the body may reject the liver. The patient would then have to be on a lifelong medication regime to prevent rejection. In such a case, the benefits of transplant may be outweighed.

One can adopt the aforementioned steps to manage hemophilia symptoms and prevent the need for emergency hemophilia treatments.