Table of contents:
- Definition
- What are blood clotting disorders?
- What are the types of blood clotting disorders?
- How common is this condition?
- Signs & Symptoms
- What are the signs and symptoms of blood clotting disorders?
- Cause
- What causes blood clotting disorders?
- 1. The cause of difficult blood clotting
- 2. The cause of excessive clotting of blood
- Diagnosis & Treatment
- How do doctors diagnose this condition?
- How to treat blood clotting disorders?
Definition
What are blood clotting disorders?
Blood clotting disorders or blood clotting disorders are conditions that interfere with your blood's process of clotting normally. The process of blood clotting, also known as coagulation, usually occurs after an injury or injury causes bleeding. With blood clotting, the body will not lose too much blood.
Generally, the blood clotting process involves two main blood components, namely platelets and blood clotting factors, also known as coagulation factors.
Blood clotting disorders can occur if one of the two components is abnormal. As a result, you may experience heavy bleeding due to blood that is difficult to clot or actually experience blood clots because the blood clots too easily.
What are the types of blood clotting disorders?
Here are some of the most common types of blood clotting disorders:
- Thrombocytopenia
- Thrombocytosis
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Bernard-Soulier syndrome
- Thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Hemophilia, occurs when the body lacks certain blood clotting proteins
- Von Willebrand's disease
How common is this condition?
Blood clotting disorders is a condition that is classified as quite rare. However, blood clotting disorders due to abnormalities in the platelets are usually more common than those caused by blood clotting factor problems.
Signs & Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of blood clotting disorders?
Symptoms of blood clotting disorders vary depending on the conditions that cause them.
If the disorder makes it difficult for the blood to clot and excessive bleeding occurs, common symptoms include:
- Easy bruising for no reason
- Heavy bleeding during menstruation
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Bleeding continuously from a small wound
- Bleeding gums
- Small red spots that look like a rash (petechiae)
- Experiencing symptoms of mild to severe anemia
- Bleeding that seeps into the joints
If the disorder you are experiencing causes thick blood and it is easier to clot (or clot), the symptoms that appear:
- Swelling in certain body parts, such as arms or legs
- The swollen area feels soft and warm to the touch
- Pain occurs
- Difficulty breathing
- Headache
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
If blood clotting disorders occur in the digestive tract, such as the stomach, the following symptoms can arise:
- Severe stomach pain
- Stomach pain that comes and goes
- Nausea
- Gag
- Bloody stool
- Diarrhea
- Bloated
- The presence of an accumulation of abdominal fluid, which is known as ascites
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.
Cause
What causes blood clotting disorders?
As previously mentioned, blood clotting disease occurs when there is a problem with the components involved in the blood clotting process, namely platelets and blood clotting factors (coagulation).
According to the Lab Tests Online site, for blood to clot properly, your body's cells need platelets and blood clotting factors. This blood clotting process is also known as hemostasis.
However, this blood clotting process can be disrupted due to problems with the blood components, making it difficult for the blood to clot or clot excessively.
1. The cause of difficult blood clotting
Blood clotting disorders that make it difficult for your blood to clot occur when you don't have enough platelets or coagulation factors, or both don't work well.
Most cases of coagulation disorders are genetic conditions that are passed from parent to child. However, some blood clotting disorders can be caused by certain medical conditions, such as liver disease.
Blood clotting disorders can also be caused by:
- Vitamin K deficiency or deficiency
- Liver problems
- Bone marrow problems that produce platelets
- Side effects of certain drugs, such as anticoagulants (which do work to inhibit the blood clotting process)
2. The cause of excessive clotting of blood
The condition where the blood clots and clots more easily is called hypercoagulation. This condition can be caused by various factors, such as:
- Red blood cells that are too concentrated
- The presence of blood clotting factors that do not work normally
- Hardening of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
- Consuming too much vitamin K
- Undergo hormone treatment, such as use of contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
- Physical activity rarely
In addition, excessive blood clotting can also be triggered by a condition known as platelet hyperaggregation.
Platelet hyperaggregation is a blood clotting problem that occurs when platelets fuse together to form fibrin tissue to block wounds. This condition is often associated as a cause of deep vein thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis), even chronic kidney disease.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
How do doctors diagnose this condition?
To diagnose blood clotting problems you are experiencing, your doctor will ask questions about the symptoms you feel and your medical history. Inform your doctor about:
- Current health conditions you have.
- Medicines (prescription, non-prescription, supplements, herbal medicines) that you have used / are currently using.
- Recent injuries or falls.
- How long the bleeding has been going on.
- What were you doing before the bleeding occurred.
From this information, the doctor can then perform blood tests to make a diagnosis. The tests you may take are:
- Complete blood count to determine the number of red blood cells and white blood cells
- Platelet aggregation test, to find out the time it takes for your platelets to clot
- Bleeding time test or prothrombin time test (PTT), to find out whether your blood clotting time is normal or not
How to treat blood clotting disorders?
Treatment will be planned based on the type of blood clotting disorder you have and the severity of the condition. Blood disorders cannot be completely cured, but medical therapy can relieve the symptoms.
Some of the possible treatments include:
- Iron supplements
- Blood transfusion
- Coagulation factor replacement injection (especially in cases of hemophilia)
Make sure you talk to your doctor, even if you only intend to take iron supplements. The reason is, you must know the right dose so that the treatment runs optimally.
