Hemophilia and Aging

As we age, there are more concerns that come into play with regard to our health. For people with blood clotting disorders like hemophilia, these challenges can be even more pronounced. However, it is possible to live a long, vibrant life with a blood disorder. This article addresses hemophilia and aging, what to expect, and how to care for yourself or a loved one.

How Hemophilia Changes as You Age

If you have hemophilia or care for someone who does, you know that you have to take precautionary and preventative measures to stay healthy. This increases with age, as you may also need to address other illnesses or complications as a result of a more suppressed immune system. Other concerns, like the potential for falls due to brittle bones and decreased balance, are present in older age.

Complications From Other Conditions

There is often some potential for complications from other diseases and conditions. For example, people who received factor replacement and other blood products, particularly in the 1980s, were at risk for infection with HIV and similar conditions due to cross-contamination with a needle. Hemophilia and aging also provide an opportunity for the need for joint replacement due to excessive bleeding, which is invasive and disruptive to quality of life. Complications from conditions like diabetes and cancer are also a real possibility.

Other Risk Factors

In addition to these complications, other risk factors include some conditions that often occur naturally in many aging adults. Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone density and mass, making aging people at higher risk for fractures in the event of a fall. As a result, falls themselves can be dangerous, which in itself is a major concern for those with hemophilia. Hypertension often increases with age, and people with blood clotting disorders are more likely to develop serious brain bleeds than the general population.

Hemophilia and Aging: Prevention and Care

In order to live a long, healthy life as long as possible, aging people with hemophilia need to take extra precautions and pay attention to their environments and habits. Understanding as much as possible about blood clotting disorders helps provide clarity. Additionally, keep these tips in mind:

• Stay on top of routine visits with your medical team, especially for factor replacement and other treatments.
• Ensure you have access to Medicare and other ways to pay for treatments. Look into co-pay assistance for medication if needed.
• Treat and follow care instructions for any other conditions like cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease.
• Exercise regularly. While exercise benefits people of all ages, it’s especially important as we age due to decreased bone density and strength.
• Keep a positive attitude. Aging with hemophilia or another blood clotting disorder is difficult, but you can live a vibrant and fulfilling life!
• Control Stress as much as possible. Tools like mindfulness can be especially helpful for people with a chronic illness like hemophilia.

Mylyfe Specialty Pharmacy exists to provide quality-of-life solutions for people with hemophilia and other chronic illnesses throughout every stage. Contact us to learn how we can help you.