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Archive for the ‘Bleeding Disorders’ Category

When you mention the words ‘blood disorder’ most people immediately think of haemophilia, which is predominantly a male condition. Thanks to advances in medicine over the past few decades it is now recognised that women do suffer in significant numbers from related problems.

In the UK alone an estimated 250,000 women have a bleeding disorder and may well be unaware of it. This number rises to 2.5 million in the US.

The obvious manifestation of an underlying problem in women is in their menstrual cycle. Most attribute heavy bleeding at the end of their cycle to something they have to put up with. Women suffering with these problems tend to accept it as ‘par for the course’, in spite of the fact that it can blight their quality of life every month and quite literally make them ill.

This article raises awareness of the types of blood disorders, the typical symptoms, their causes, potential treatment and where to go for help if you may be affected by any of the issues raised here.

Symptoms

If you think you may have a problem, this is what to look out for:

Heavy periods (referred to as menorrhagia)
Frequent nosebleeds
Bruising
Cuts that take a long time to stop bleeding
Bleeding heavily after childbirth
Gums that bleed regularly and heavily, whether spontaneously or after dental treatment

Most people will not realise they have a problem until they have a serious injury, surgery, dental work or possibly after childbirth.

Causes

Blood disorders are either inherited or acquired, the latter can be the result of medical conditions such as kidney problems or the result of certain medicines you may be taking.

Types of Blood Disorders

There are a number of types of blood disorders, including platelet function disorders. The most common appears to be Von Willebrand’s disease which affects 1% of the population in the UK for example.

Diagnosis

If any of this sounds familiar and you are concerned about any symptoms you may have, your doctor should refer you to a haemotologist to get checked out through a series of blood tests.

Continually heavy bleeding during a period may also cause anaemia which is characterised by feeling very tired, looking pale and becoming breathless even with little exercise. Anaemia is the lack of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood. It can be normally be rectified through a combination of tablets and a diet rich in iron, such as green vegetables, red meat, dried fruit and pulses. Vitamin B12 is also a good source and can be found in milk, cheese and eggs. In extreme cases of anaemia Vitamin B12 injections may also be given.

Treatment

Treatment for bleeding disorders varies widely depending on the severity of the disorder. Mild disorders can be managed with medication in the form of tablets, nasal sprays or injectable medication as required.

Where to Go for Help – Useful Websites

Please see below for useful website links for advice and where to go for help if you are affected by any of the issues in this article.

In Closing

So essentially, if you believe you or a friend, loved one or colleague may have any of these symptoms, please get checked. It can literally be a life saver in severe cases but at the very least it could improve your quality of life on a permanent basis

Being an herbal supplement doesn’t make Digestrin a foolproof, 100% safe formulation. Even products that claim to consist of only all-natural ingredients have contraindications. Digestrin is one such product, and it certainly isn’t meant to be taken by everybody. It contains ingredients that can aggravate a pre-existing health problem. One should have sufficient knowledge about the risks of taking certain herbal supplements especially if he is under medication for another disorder.

Digestrin should not be taken by women who are pregnant or nursing without the advice of a physician. Certain ingredients such as valerian have not yet been evaluated and may pose possible risks on a fetus. There is no way of knowing whether or not such substances can be secreted through the mother’s milk, too. If you are a nursing mother advised to take the product, you will have to find an alternative feeding method to make sure that you don’t cause irreversible effects on your baby.

The product is also not meant to be used by people who have allergic reactions to the herbs stated in its packaging. There have been reports of adverse reactions to chamomile. Allergies can cause bronchial constriction, among others. People who are allergic to mugwort pollen should also stay away from the supplement. Intake of this product may cause anaphylactic shock and asthma to those allergic to the ingredients mentioned.

You may need to rethink taking Digestrin if you’re under oral medication. Flaxseed, another key ingredient in the supplement, may lower the body’s ability to absorb oral medications. Taking Digestrin may inhibit the effects of the medication that you’re taking. The product may be detrimental to your efficient recovery, so you should consult your physician before trying it out. Your doctor may only ask you to take the supplement if the purported benefits override the possible risks. It may be logical to just set it aside until you’re done with your current medication.

If you’re experiencing bleeding disorders, Digestrin is something you should avoid taking altogether. Ginkgo, which is found in the product, can increase the risk of bleeding and seizures. Those who are taking anticoagulants are not advised to try the product as treatment for IBS. The product is also not advisable for intake if you’re scheduled for dental procedures such as tooth extractions. Proper precaution should be taken when you’re under medication for high blood pressure and other heart problems.

One of the most important things that one should remember before taking Digestrin is that it may cause certain adverse effects if proper caution is not practiced. It is important to seek the advice of your physician if you intend to try this supplement out. Your doctor knows your medical history and can accurately determine what kinds of supplements will work for you and which ones you should avoid.

Normal menstrual function is the result of a complex interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries and endometrium. Any interruption of this axis at any point may lead to disordered menstruation. Many types of menstrual disorders occur in adult women who have normal sexual maturation. These disorders include absence of menstruation (amenorrhea); painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea); dysfunctional uterine bleeding (anovulatory bleeding); excessive blood loss during each menstrual cycle (menorrhagia); and irregular bleeding (metrorrhagia).

In addition, many women experience premenstrual syndrome, a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before the onset of each cycle. Also, a few women have transient abdominal discomfort at the time of ovulation because of slight bleeding from the follicle into the peritoneal cavity; oral contraceptives will remedy the condition by suppression of ovulation, or the discomfort can be treated with pain medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods)

Amenorrhea is a reflection of some failure in the integrally interconnected neuroendocrine feedback loop between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the ovaries, and the uterus which control the menstrual cycle. However, amenorrhea is not itself a disease.

There are two categories of amenorrhea, primary and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is the delay or failure of a young woman to start menstruating upon reaching the age of 16. The course of puberty and the age of menarche vary so widely that there should be no worry until the girl reaches the age of 16, provided that there are other signs of early pubertal changes (growth spurt, underarm or pubic hair, breast development). Treatment for primary amenorrhea usually is not undertaken until the age of 18.

Secondary amenorrhea refers to the lack of menstruation that occurs in women who had previously been menstruating but then ceases menstruation for at least three cycles. It is much more common than primary amenorrhea. However, unless symptoms are extreme or there is another underlying problem, such as inability to conceive, there is no pressing need for treatment.

Causes of primary amenorrhea may include chromosomal disorders such as Turner’s syndrome (a genetic disorder that prevents sexual maturing in girls); hypothalamic or pituitary diseases; moderate or excessive exercise; dietary deficiencies resulting from disorders such as anorexia nervosa and obesity; extreme physical or psychological stress or a combination of both; and adverse effect of a variety of medication including some tranquilisers and progesterone. The common causes of secondary amenorrhea include many of those listed for primary amenorrhea as well as pregnancy; ovarian cysts and/or tumors; extreme weight loss and/or vigorous physical activity; radiation therapy or an abnormally adherent placenta in a prior pregnancy; and damage to the pituitary.

Diagnosis of both types of amenorrhea is usually directed at finding an organic cause, usually by process of elimination. This involves taking a very detailed medical history, followed by a careful physical examination, preferably including a pelvic examination and a skull X-ray to rule out pituitary tumors. Additionally, laboratory tests of urine and vaginal smears may be necessary for secondary amenorrhea.

Treatment of amenorrhea is determined by its cause. Hormone therapy can be effective for primary amenorrhea caused by hormonal changes. Surgery can sometimes alleviate cases related to hereditary problems. For secondary amenorrhea, sometimes lifestyle changes can help if weight, stress, or physical activity is causing the amenorrhea. Other times medications and oral contraceptives can help the problem.

Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)

It is also referred to as menstrual cramps. Painful cramps or spasms of dull and/or acute lower abdominal discomfort, felt before or during menstruation. The pain normally involves only the lower abdominal and genital area, but sometimes it is felt in the lower back, on the inner thighs and throughout the pelvis. Along with pain, some women experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting. In most women, cramps tend to lessen in severity after the age of 30. In 5% or so of women the condition is severe enough to interfere significantly with their lives.

Dysmenorrhea may be primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea may occur a few days before the period, at the onset of bleeding, or during the total episode. The pain varies from a severe incapacitating distress to relatively minor and brief intense cramps. Other symptoms may include irritability, fatigue, backache, headache, leg pains, nausea, vomiting, and cramping.

Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by the endocrine system’s release of excessive amounts of prostaglandins that stimulate the uterus to contract, thus causing the familiar cramps of the disorder. Drugs that block prostaglandin formation can decrease the severity of uterine contractions and can eliminate pain for many women with dysmenorrhea.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is much less common. It most often results from genital obstructions, pelvic inflammation or degeneration, abnormal uterine wall separation or development (i.e., endometriosis), chronic infection of the uterus, polyps or tumors, or weakness of the muscles that support the uterus. Tumors produce sharper pains.

Women have long used a variety of home remedies for cramps. Antiprostaglandin medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, fenoprofen calcium, mefenamic acid, naproxen sodium, and naproxen. Heat tends to relax the spasms, and relief often is afforded by use of a heating pad or a hotwater bottle or deep-heating oil (such as tiger balm).

Anovulatory bleeding (dysfunctional uterine bleeding)

Anovulatory bleeding refers to any abnormal bleeding from the vagina that cannot be considered as part of the normal menstruation cycle. This occurs most often in the first two or three years following menarche and again in the five or so years preceding menopause.

Without ovulation in the normal course of the menstrual cycle, no progesterone is produced. The extra endometrial tissue built up during the follicular phase is eventually shed, but not at the regular rate and time that it would have occurred in the instance of ovulation. Progesterone regulates the timing of the menstrual cycle, and without it menstruation becomes irregular or may cease altogether, or it may involve heavy, long-lasting menstrual periods.

Experts believe that 20% of ovulation failures are the result of excessive heavy physical exercises, obesity, chronic illness, excess androgen production, thyroid gland dysfunction, excess prolactin production or psychologically seated sexual problems and anxieties. The administration of oral progesterone often will stop heavy bleeding but cannot reinstate ovulation.

Menorrhagia (Heavy Periods)

It is a fairly common disorder that is characterized by an unusually heavy cyclical menstrual blood loss over several consecutive cycles without any intermenstrual or post-coital bleeding. Menorrhagia may be due to an imbalance of the thyroid or adrenal hormones but may also be the result of local disease of the pelvic organs. The average amount of blood loss during a normal menstrual period is about 2 ounces while with menorrhagia a woman may lose about 3 ounces or more.

Causes of menorrhagia include anovulation; imbalance of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone); fibroids; pelvic infection; endometrial disorder; intrauterine device (IUD); and hypothyroidism. For treatment, some types of local pelvic disease may require removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) or treatment by chemotherapy or radiation, but polyps and some fibroids can be removed without loss of the uterus.

Metrorrhagia (Irregular/Spotty Bleeding)

This refers to bleeding from the vagina between regular menstrual cycles. Some women also have spotting following sexual intercourse. Such bleeding may come from some abnormality of the cervix (possibly a cancer); a polyp on the cervix; or a cervical erosion. Treatment is often unnecessary, but erosions are easily treated by cauterization. Polyps require removal.

Other disorders associated with the menstrual cycle include the following:

Oligomenorrhea (prolonged intervals between menses)

Most women of reproductive age menstruate every 25 to 30 days if they are not pregnant, nursing a child, or experiencing other disorders such as tumours, or anorexia nervosa. In oligomenorrhea, menstruation occurs with intervals of 35 or more days between menstrual periods. It is particularly common at menarche during the first few years of menstruation and during perimenopause. The cause of the disorder may be occasional emotional problems, crash diets and obesity, hormonal, or structural in nature.

Polymenorrhea (frequent interval between menses)

This is characterized with frequent menstrual periods, with intervals of fewer than 20 days between menstrual flows. It may also be caused by a uterine fibroid. It usually signifies a hormone imbalance, that is, too much estrogen in the absence of progesterone (or relative to progesterone), a condition found mostly in young girls who are not yet ovulating and in women approaching menopause. Some women routinely menstruate every 19 or 20 days and, in the absence of anaemia or other problems, such a short menstrual cycle is no cause for alarm or for treatment.

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