What if a simple cut on your arm became a life-threatening episode? That’s the reality for those living with hemophilia, a disorder that prevents the normal clotting of blood from an injury, making the bleeding more exaggerated than in a healthy individual.
The condition is relatively rare in the U.S., with about 20,000-cases, according to the National Hemophilia Foundation. Around the world, that number is estimated to be around 400,000. However, while it doesn’t affect a large portion of the population, it has its own day to mark—World Hemophilia Day. Here are seven things to know about it…
There are Two Main Types
Hemophilia, a term that covers a range of inherited bleeding disorders, is broken down into two main categories: hemophilia A and hemophilia B (the latter also known as Christmas disease). The two are “distinguished by the specific gene that is mutated,” according to MedicineNet.com.
There is also a hemophilia C, but it is less severe than type A or B, adds the source. Hemophilia A is about 4-times more common than B. How each type affects the patient can differ from case to case.