
National Hemophilia Awareness Month
Unfortunately, many life-threatening medical conditions are not well understood by most people, unless they have a family member with such a condition.
Nowadays, most people are aware of how important it is to spread the word about different diseases to increase awareness about the challenges that some of our fellow citizens face every day.
National Hemophilia Awareness Month was established to do exactly that: to shed light on a condition that is often overlooked by many and to find ways to assist hemophiliacs who may feel alone or lacking the financial resources to manage their illness.
Hemophilia, in short, is a condition that prevents blood clotting following an injury. This means that the sufferer simply bleeds on. This can lead to serious health problems or even death.
This is your chance to learn more about this serious condition and make the world a better place.
It is important to learn about the history of National Hemophilia Awareness Month in order to understand why it is so important. Although it is difficult to pinpoint when it began, it was discovered in the 10th Century when doctors started to investigate the cases of people who had died from bleeding from minor injuries.
Unfortunately, physicians in the 10th century weren’t equipped to properly study the condition, so hemophiliacs had to wait until the 19th Century to find answers.
Despite this, many people suffered from the disease. Some of the most notable cases were those of European royals, including Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria’s son. Prince Leopold, who was only a minor fell away from death, died of internal hemorhaging.
The condition was initially “treated” by aspirin. This, unbeknownst of the general public, only made it worse. It also made the hemophiliac’s blood thinner than normal. Dr. John Conrad Otto started studying “bleeders” in 1803, and slowly, ways to prevent spontaneous, profuse bleeding were found, including the administration of clotting factor.
However, there is no cure. Hemophilia affects approximately 400,000 people around the globe, and many cannot afford treatment.
Doctors and scientists around the world are working tirelessly to find a cure. However, people other than doctors and scientists can still do their part to combat this disease. Many social media tools, including Twitter and Facebook, can be used to spread the word about hemophilia to more people.
They can make a donation to the World Federation of Hemophilia to help fund research and treatment for those who are unable. You can help raise awareness about hemophilia by liking or following the World Federation of Hemophilia via your preferred social media network. Share, like, and retweet.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 proved that everyone can make a difference. Even a small gesture can make a big impact on someone else.