Living with Hemophilia
| Hemophilia Treatment Centers Ongoing Healthcare Needs Medicine Precautions |
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Ongoing Healthcare Needs
To avoid complications, it’s important that people who have hemophilia:
- Continue any treatment prescribed for hemophilia.
- Get regular checkups and vaccinations as recommended. Vaccines for hepatitis A and B are recommended for those who are treated with blood transfusions. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.
- Tell all of your healthcare providers, such as your doctor, dentist, and pharmacist, that you have hemophilia. You also may want to tell people like your employee health nurse, gym trainer and sports coach about your condition.
- Get regular dental care. Dentists at the HTCs are experts in providing dental care for people who have hemophilia. If you see another dentist, tell the dentist that you or your child has hemophilia. The dentist can provide medicine that will reduce bleeding during dental work.
- Know the signs and symptoms of bleeding in joints and other parts of the body and when to call the doctor or go to the emergency room.
Contact your doctor or go to the emergency room for:
- Heavy bleeding that can’t be stopped or a wound that continues to ooze blood.
- Any signs or symptoms of bleeding in the brain. Such bleeding is life threatening and requires immediate emergency care.
- Limited motion, pain or swelling of any joint.
It’s a good idea to keep a record of all previous treatments. Be sure to take this information with you to medical appointments and to the hospital or emergency room.
Medicine Precautions
Some medicines increase the chance for bleeding. You should avoid medicines such as:
- Aspirin and other drugs that contain salicylates
- Ibuprofen, naproxen and some other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
For more information about medicines to avoid, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
