Blood Disorders

Blood disorders are conditions that prevent parts of your blood from doing their essential jobs, such as carrying oxygen, fighting infections, or helping your blood clot properly. While some blood disorders can be serious, many can be managed with proper treatment and care.

Table of contents

• What Are Blood Disorders?
• Types of Blood Disorders
• How Blood Disorders Affect the Body
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living with Blood Disorders

What Are Blood Disorders?

Blood disorders are conditions that keep parts of your blood from doing their jobs^[1]. Your blood is living tissue made up of liquid and solids. The liquid part, called plasma, is made of water, salts, and protein. The solid part contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are tiny cell fragments^[2].

Each component of your blood has a specific role. Your red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Your white blood cells help protect your body from infection. Your platelets help your blood to clot so you don’t bleed more than normal^[1].

Blood disorders may be cancerous or noncancerous. Noncancerous blood disorders affect how your blood cells and platelets function. You may inherit a noncancerous blood disorder from your biological parents, or you may develop one because you have an underlying condition that affects your blood^[1].

Types of Blood Disorders

There are many different types of blood conditions and blood cancers. Common blood disorders include anemia, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma^[4].

Blood Clotting Disorders

A blood clotting disorder affects your platelets or your clotting factors (coagulation factors). Clotting factors are proteins in your blood. Your platelets and clotting factors make blood clots, which control bleeding. Blood clotting disorders may be called a hypercoagulable state or thrombophilia^[1].

Blood clotting disorders include:

• Prothrombin gene mutation: This inherited disorder increases your risk of developing abnormal blood clots in your veins (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolism)^[1].
• Antiphospholipid syndrome: This rare autoimmune disorder, which often affects people who have lupus, can cause blood clots in several areas of your body^[1].
• Protein S deficiency: Protein S is a natural anticoagulant in your blood. Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting. Protein S helps keep other proteins from making too many blood clots. This is a rare inherited disorder^[1].
• Protein C deficiency: Like protein S, protein C is a natural anticoagulant that protects you from developing too many blood clots^[1].
• Antithrombin deficiency: This inherited disorder increases your risk of deep vein thrombosis^[1].
• Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: This rare blood disorder happens when your immune system attacks your red blood cells, increasing your risk of blood clots^[1].
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): DIC is a rare blood clotting disorder that may cause uncontrollable bleeding or clotting^[1].

Bleeding Disorders

Bleeding disorders happen when your blood doesn’t clot normally, causing you to bleed more than usual^[1]. Common bleeding disorders include:

• Von Willebrand disease: This condition is the most common bleeding disorder in the United States. Most people who have von Willebrand disease inherited a mutated gene from one of their biological parents. Some people develop this condition as a complication of certain cancers, autoimmune disorders, and heart and blood vessel diseases^[1].
• Hemophilia: This is a bleeding disorder, most often inherited, in which the blood fails to clot. Hemophilia is caused by a deficiency in clotting factors, specifically Factor VIII (Hemophilia A) or Factor IX (Hemophilia B)^[19].

How Blood Disorders Affect the Body

In general, noncancerous blood disorders are conditions that affect your blood cells and platelets and cause issues that may increase your risk of blood clots or make you bleed more than normal because your blood doesn’t form blood clots^[1].

Some people with blood clotting disorders have an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. Call emergency services if you think you’re having a pulmonary embolism because you have chest pain and difficulty breathing. Heart attack and stroke are medical conditions that need emergency treatment^[1].

Diagnosis

Healthcare providers use various tests to diagnose blood disorders. Blood count tests and blood tests are common diagnostic tools used to examine different parts of your blood^[2]. These may include tests such as:

• Haptoglobin test
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis
• Karyotype genetic test

When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your total health. Talking to your doctor is the first step to take if you believe you may have a blood condition. If you are diagnosed with a blood disorder, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist. A hematologist is a medical doctor who applies specialized knowledge to treat patients with blood conditions^[4].

Treatment

Healthcare providers treat blood disorders by managing symptoms and treating any underlying conditions^[1]. Treatment for bleeding disorders will vary depending on the type of disorder and may include medicines and factor replacement therapy. Your treatment may be every day to prevent bleeding episodes, or as needed when you plan for surgery or have an accident. You may not need treatment if your bleeding disorder causes few or no symptoms^[17].

Medications

The following medicines may help treat your blood disorder:

• Antifibrinolytic agents, such as tranexamic acid, help treat bleeding after childbirth or during dental work and other procedures^[17].
• Birth control pills can help lower heavy menstrual bleeding in von Willebrand disease^[17].
• Desmopressin (DDAVP), a human-made hormone, can help stop minor bleeding in hemophilia or von Willebrand disease^[17].
• Immunosuppressive medicines, such as prednisone, help block production of antibodies in acquired bleeding disorders^[17].
• Monoclonal antibodies can imitate the missing factor to help blood form clots. For example, emicizumab is an antibody that bridges factors IX and X to mimic the way factor VIII works, which can help treat people with hemophilia A^[17].
• Vitamin K supplements treat vitamin K deficiency^[17].

Blood Transfusion

A blood transfusion is a common, safe medical procedure in which healthy donor blood is given to you through an intravenous, or IV line inserted in one of your blood vessels. Blood transfusions replace blood that is lost through surgery or injury. This treatment also provides blood if your body is not making blood properly on its own^[11].

Four types of blood products may be given through blood transfusions: whole blood, red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Blood transfusions usually take 1 to 4 hours to complete. You will be monitored during and after the procedure^[11].

Bone Marrow Transplant

Sometimes, people with noncancerous blood disorders qualify for a bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant replaces diseased blood cells with healthy stem cells. Stem cells then grow new blood cells^[13].

Living with Blood Disorders

Some blood disorders may not cause symptoms or require treatment. Others are chronic (lifelong) illnesses that require treatment but typically won’t affect how long you’ll live. Other blood disorders are serious illnesses that can be life-threatening^[1].

With treatment, most blood disorders become chronic illnesses that don’t affect people’s lifespans^[1].

Receive Routine Follow-up Care

If you are diagnosed with a bleeding disorder, it is important that you follow your treatment plan, receive routine care, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and learn how to lower your risk of complications^[18].

How often you see your healthcare provider should depend on your bleeding disorder, your symptoms, and your treatment plan. Even if you do not have symptoms and are not undergoing treatment, you should see your provider for ongoing care. Follow your treatment plan as directed by your provider to prevent complications^[18].

Stay Active with Care

Physical activity is essential for your overall health, especially for maintaining strong joints and muscles. Low-impact exercises like swimming, yoga, or cycling are often great choices because they minimize strain on your joints. Before starting a new activity, consult with your healthcare team to ensure it aligns with your needs^[19].

Eat to Support Your Body

Your diet plays a key role in how your body heals and functions. Incorporate foods that promote clotting, joint health, and overall wellness. Iron-rich foods like spinach, beans, and lean meats support blood health. Vitamin K sources like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts aid clotting. Calcium and Vitamin D from dairy or fortified options strengthen bones. And remember to stay hydrated—drinking enough water helps keep your body functioning at its best^[22].

Manage Stress

Living with a chronic condition can be stressful, but finding ways to manage that stress is just as important as physical health. Activities like mindfulness, meditation, or gentle stretching can help ground you. Consider joining a support group for individuals with bleeding disorders—it’s comforting to connect with people who truly understand your experiences^[22].

Building Your Support Network

Managing a blood disorder is much easier with a strong support system. Don’t be afraid to lean on your circle. Educate family, friends, and coworkers about your condition so they know how to help. Work closely with your healthcare providers, including hematologists, physical therapists, and nutritionists. Explore community resources or organizations for guidance and support^[22].

In the United States, you can contact the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation or the Hemophilia Federation of America to get in touch with families in your area who have been affected by blood disorders. There are local chapters and associations in many areas of the country. By finding support within your community, you can learn more about resources available to meet the needs of families and people with blood disorders^[23].