World Haemophilia Day 2025 — Know The Importance Of Early Detection, Dietary Management, And More
World Haemophilia Day 2025: Haemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that occurs rarely due to deficiencies in clotting factors, leading to unheeded or less bleeding, joint pain, and other consequences. Every year on April 17, World Haemophilia Day is celebrated to inform the global populace about the condition, enhance diagnosis and access to care, and assert that conditions like these require equitable treatment for all, considering especially females and girls with bleeding disorders.
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To raise awareness about this rare genetic disorder, Dr. M.S. Purkait, Medical Superintendent at Techno India DAMA Hospital, shares key insights into its causes, symptoms, and management.
Dr. M.S. Purkait explained, "Haemophilia is an ancient disease. It is a chromosomally recessive genetic disorder caused by a mutated gene. Characterised by delay in clotting, unexplained bruising, bleeding from gums and nose, bleeding in the joints and sometimes in the urine. Girls may have prolonged periods."
He further elaborated, "In olden times it was thought that men are affected and women act as carriers, but women can also be affected. Mainly caused by deficiency or dysfunction of factor 8 and factor 9 and generally passed through generations. Sometimes it can be acquired later in life due to certain medicines, pregnancy, cancer and certain autoimmune disorders."
Prevention And Care:
Dr. Purkait also emphasised the importance of preventive measures and spreading awareness. He stated, "Prevention and awareness involve early testing, premarital testing and avoiding consanguineous marriages. Prompt and frequent transfusions of factors and plasma can keep the disease in check," he added.
Nutrition Guidelines For Better Management:
On the occasion of World Haemophilia Day, Dr. Payal Roy, a Critical Care Nutritionist and Head of the Dietetics Department at Techno India Dama Hospital, shared her expert insights into the disorder and highlighted the crucial role of dietary management in its care.
She explained, "Haemophilia A and B are the most prevalent, caused by deficiencies in factor VIII and factor IX, respectively. The severity of haemophilia varies depending on the level of clotting factor deficiency, with mild cases requiring occasional precautions and severe cases causing more frequent and serious bleeding episodes."
Dietary Management :
Dr Payal Roy emphasises the role of nutrition and suggests some dietary tips here:
What To Eat:
- Maintaining iron levels is particularly important for people with haemophilia, as an estimated 0.75 micrograms of iron is lost with each 15 ml of blood.
- Iron-rich foods include liver, lean red meat, poultry, leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, and dried beans.
grains, and raisins.
- Calcium-rich foods are milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, and calcium-fortified cereals.
What To Avoid:
- Although there are specific treatments and medications for haemophilia, it is best to avoid certain foods with high saturated fats.
high-fat oils, and high-calorie foods.
- For the best possible results, one should have to regulate the intake of processed foods, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners.
[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]
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