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Bleeding Disorders
A bleeding disorder is a condition that affects the way your blood normally clots. When you get
injured, your blood normally begins to clot to prevent a massive loss of blood. Sometimes the
mechanism that causes the blood to clot fails, resulting in rapid or prolonged bleeding.
Bleeding disorders don’t always affect blood leaving the body. There are many conditions that
cause bleeding to occur under the skin or in the brain.
Part 2 of 6: Causes
liver disease
low red blood cell count
vitamin K deficiency
medication side-effects
Part 3 of 6: Types
Certain diseases or medical conditions can also cause a deficiency of one or more blood clotting
factors. The most common causes of acquired bleeding disorders are end-stage liver disease or
vitamin K deficiency. According to the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC),
this is because most blood clotting factors are produced in the liver, and certain clotting factors
are vitamin k dependent (AACC, 2011).
The main sign of a bleeding disorder is prolonged or excessive bleeding. The bleeding is
normally heavier than normal and unprovoked.
unexplained bruising
heavy menstrual bleeding
frequent nosebleeds
Part 4 of 6: Diagnosis
additional symptoms
how often you experience the bleeding
how long the bleeding episode lasts
what you were doing before the bleeding began
After gathering this information, your doctor will administer tests that include:
complete blood count (CBC): to check the amount of blood loss as well as the amount of
red and white blood cells you have)
platelet aggregation test
bleeding time: to see how fast your blood vessels close to prevent bleeding
Part 5 of 6: Treatments
Iron Supplementation
If you have significant blood loss, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements to replenish the
amount of iron in your body. A low iron level can result in iron deficiency anemia. This
condition can make you feel weak, short of breath, and light-headed. In addition to treatment
with iron, you may need a blood transfusion.
Blood Tranfusion
A blood transfusion replaces the lost blood with blood taken from a donor. The donor blood has
to match your blood type to prevent complications. This procedure is only offered in the hospital.
factor replacement
fresh frozen plasma transfusion
Part 6 of 6: Complications