Healthy Living

Below you’ll find advice to help you live well with a bleeding disorder.

Exercise/staying active

Keeping active is essential for a healthy lifestyle for everyone with or without a bleeding disorder. Moderate exercise has even more therapeutic benefits for those with haemophilia since it will help build strong musculoskeletal support to offer some protection from the wear and tear of daily life.

Sports

In general, any risk factors associated with sports are outweighed by the inherent benefits of staying active. However, your doctor or physiotherapist is the best person to check with, so make sure you get the advice of a medical professional who knows your specific circumstances. For example, you may require prophylactic treatment ahead of participation, or if you have a vulnerable joint, you may find high impact sports off-limits.

Physiotherapy

Maintaining an active lifestyle is just as important as finding time for recuperation and rest, particularly when a bleed necessitates it. A specialist physiotherapist who specialises in haemophilia can advise what to do to maintain or improve health and fitness regardless of a person’s age or joint problems. They can tailor an exercise programme that will maximise activity without damaging problem joints or muscles.

Dental care

There are pamphlets available to help dentists treat adult patients with haemophilia. You can download the dental advice here.

Mental health

Dr Anna Brazier, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Cardiff’s Haemophilia Centre, has produced this information and has helped us produce content on how to keep positive when dealing with the anxieties of a bleeding disorder.

Read more about positive mental health here.

The below pointers will help direct you to the right resources, whether you are someone with a bleeding disorder, a parent or a carer.