Bleeding Disorder

A bleeding disorder is an acquired or inherited tendency to bleed excessively. Normally, blood remains in the circulatory system inside the blood vessels. However, if veins or arteries are injured, they will begin to leak blood, either externally or into body tissues. The body stops the blood loss through a complex clotting process called hemostasis. During hemostasis, the injured blood vessel constricts to reduce blood flow, platelets adhere to the injury site and clump together to form a loose platelet plug, and a process of clot formation called the coagulation cascade is initiated.

Blood clotting, or coagulation, is the process that controls bleeding. It changes blood from a liquid to a solid. It's a complex process involving as many as 20 different plasma proteins, or blood clotting factors. Normally, a complex chemical process occurs using these clotting factors to form a substance called fibrin that stops bleeding. When certain coagulation factors are deficient or missing, the process doesn't occur normally.

Within seconds of an injury, tiny cells in the blood, called platelets, bunch together around the wound. Blood proteins, platelets, calcium and other tissue factors react together and form what's called a clot, which acts like a net over the wound. Over the next several days to weeks, the clot strengthens, then dissolves when the wound is healed.

When someone has a bleeding disorder they have a tendency to bleed longer. The disorders can result from defects in the blood vessels or from abnormalities in the blood itself. The abnormalities may be in blood clotting factors or in platelets.

In people with bleeding disorders, clotting factors are missing or don't work as they should. This causes them to bleed for a longer time than those whose blood factor levels are normal. It's a myth that people with bleeding disorders bleed to death from minor injuries or their blood flows faster. Bleeding problems can range from mild to severe.

Symptoms

• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Bleeding gums
• Bleeding into joints causing arthritis-like symptoms
• Blood in semen
• Dark urine
• Excessive or easy bruising
• Heavy or prolonged bleeding from normal cuts and scrapes or minor dental procedures
• Heavy or prolonged menstrual periods
• Nosebleeds
• Prolonged postpartum bleeding (after childbirth)
• Unusually pale skin and mucus membranes, such as in the mouth
• Vision problems

Popular treatments and recommendations

• Priyangu flowers are useful in bleeding disorders associated with aggravation of ayurveda pitta dosha.
• Nagakeshara or Mesua stamens are used medicinally in ayurvedic medicine for arresting bleeding. It is an astringent and bitter herb.
• Surapunnaga is also known in ayruvedic medicine as Red Mesua. Its medicinal properties are just like Punnaga or Alexandrian laurel.
• Bark, seed and oil of seeds of Alexandrian laurel is beneficial in bleeding disorders.
• Leaves of Parnabeeja are effective in checking bleeding.
• Ayapana whole herb is used in bleeding disorders. Native Americans use this herbal remedy in Yellow fever (a bleeding disorders resulting from infection and breakage of RBCs or red blood cells). Its leaves have light green colored volatile oil, Ayapanin, Ayapin, Carotene and vitamin C.
• Flowers and leaves of Aztec are use for arresting bleeding.
• Teak wood is used in bleeding disorders.
• The gum of Dragon's Blood have been found beneficial in checking bleeding.
• Root and leaves of Blumea lacera are good anti-inflammatory, anti-hemorrhoids (piles) and hemostyptic (anti-bleeding) properties.
• Whole herb of Tropical Duckweed is rich in minerals and its ash (Pana salt) along with its plant is beneficial in arresting bleeding.
• Antifibrinolytic medications, including aminocaproic acid (Amicar) and tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron), to help prevent the normal breakdown of blood clots after they have formed
• Clotting factor replacement to replace a specific clotting factor
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to suppress the immune system in people who have developed antibodies that inhibit specific clotting factors (acquired hemophilia)
• Desmopressin acetate (DDAVP), which is used to temporarily increase factor VIII clotting activity
• Immune therapies to suppress the immune system in people with acquired hemophilia
• Plasma transfusions to supplement all the clotting factors. Transfusion of fresh frozen plasma may be used after a bleeding episode or before certain procedures to control bleeding.
• Platelet transfusions to increase the number of platelets in the bloodstream
• Vitamin supplementation for bleeding disorders caused by vitamin K deficiency

Prevention

Maintain your physical health by regular exercises, hygienic foods and sufficient intake of vitamin K. If you, or someone you are with, have serious symptoms, such as bleeding from a wound that does not stop after a few minutes, blood in the urine or stool, vomiting blood, major rectal bleeding, continued dizziness, or shortness of breath, please consult emergency services immediately, because it may become a serious condition.

References

• http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF.aspx?menuid=2&contentid=5
• http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/bleeding-disorders-1/treatments
• http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/bleeding-disorders?start=6
• http://www.holistic-herbalist.com/herbal-remedies-for-heavy-periods.html
• http://www.medhelp.org/medical-information/show/28/Bleeding?page=0