If there is a coagulation disorder, the clotting of the blood is either too weak or too pronounced. But how does a coagulation disorder become noticeable? We show which symptoms occur with which type of blood clotting disorder.
On the one hand, blood clotting (haemostasis) is responsible for ensuring that blood flows in the body and that all organs are supplied with oxygen. On the other hand, clotting is responsible for blood clotting after an injury and wounds being closed. This happens when the blood vessels in the affected area narrow and platelets (thrombocytes) subsequently collect. Coagulation factors are necessary for the platelets to stick together. The process of blood clotting with these clotting factors is very complex. The right degree must be found to keep the blood both fluid and rapidly turning into solids.
Table of Contents
What is a blood clotting disorder?
Not everyone has hemostasis, or blood clotting, properly. Then there is a clotting disorder . A distinction is made, for example, between an increased tendency to coagulate (thrombophilia) or an increased tendency to bleed (hemophilia) .. The former represents an increased risk of thrombosis because there are too few anticoagulant substances in the blood. This can form dangerous blood clots that can cause strokes or heart attacks. In the case of hemophilia, i.e. the increased tendency to bleed, patients bleed significantly longer. Accordingly, it takes time for the wounds to close and stop bleeding through natural clotting. A tendency to bleed during an operation can be dangerous. Haemophilia is one of the most well-known blood clotting disorders. Those affected by this form of hemophilia suffer from prolonged bleeding even after the smallest of injuries.
Causes of blood clotting disorders
Blood clotting disorders can arise genetically or due to certain risk factors. Errors in the genome can result in blood coagulation proteins not being present or being intact. Taking medication, diseases of the immune system or cancer can also promote the development of a coagulation disorder. Factors that also affect the risk of developing bleeding disorders include:
- overweight
- smoking
- constant lack of fluids
- pregnancy
- high age
Symptoms of a blood clotting disorder
The signs of a coagulation disorder depend on which coagulation disorder is present and how severe it is. If the disorder is weak, those affected usually notice no symptoms.
Increased blood clotting (thrombophilia) usually only causes symptoms when a blood clot has already formed. Such a disorder most often affects the legs and is manifested by the following signs:
- swelling of the legs and feet
- Sensation of pain in legs and feet
- Pain in the legs. When the legs are elevated, the symptoms usually decrease.
- Reddish or bluish discoloration of the skin
Since the suspicion of a thrombosis is obvious, you should consult a doctor immediately . A thrombosis can, among other things, lead to a stroke or develop into a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. In addition to your blood clotting disorder, other risk factors can promote diseases such as thrombosis. These include, for example, taking hormone preparations such as the pill, being bedridden, lack of exercise, diseases such as cardiac insufficiency or narrowing of the vascular wall.
If there is reduced blood clotting (hemophilia), such as in hemophilia, these symptoms can occur:
- headache
- visual disturbances
- Frequent nosebleeds
- bleeding gums
- blood in the stool or urine
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
Bleeding disorders: medications used to treat them
The treatment depends on the individual blood clotting disorder. For example, patients with reduced blood clotting regularly receive injections or medication with the missing clotting factors. Those affected should also take care to avoid bleeding as much as possible.
If you have excessive blood clotting, you can take various blood-thinning medications with active ingredients such as acetylsalicylic acid or heparin. In risky situations, such as on a long-haul flight, those affected should wear compression stockings and regularly relieve their legs with specific vein exercises.
Bleeding disorders in pregnancy
The risk of blood clotting disorders increases in women, especially during and shortly after pregnancy. Blood clots or bleeding are not uncommon during this time. If you have symptoms of coagulation disorders, be sure to clarify with your doctor whether there is a risk to you or the fetus.
About 25 percent of all pregnancies have bleeding in the first trimester. Usually, such light bleeding occurs in the first few months of pregnancy, at the times when you would normally have had your menstrual period. However, if the bleeding tendency increases significantly during pregnancy and bleeding occurs frequently and severely, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Such bleeding tendencies can sometimes be a sign of problematic pregnancy outcomes.
Coagulation disorders as a disease
The most well-known disease associated with blood clotting disorders is hemophilia . Patients suffering from the disease tend to have profuse bleeding, blood clotting and wound closure do not function normally, and they bruise frequently and easily. Almost exclusively boys and men develop the hemophilia. The disease is caused by a genetic defect on the X chromosome. Since men have an XY chromosome pair, a defect on the X chromosome, which triggers blood clotting disorders, manifests itself as a bleeding disorder. Females , on the other hand, have an XX chromosome pair.If one of the X chromosomes with the genetic information for triggering the hemophilia is compromised, the other X chromosome can compensate for the defect. So women can inherit hemophilia and pass it on to their daughters and sons, but the disease only breaks out in male offspring.