Did you know? There are about 3 million people nationwide who are affected by bleeding disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
And, at Children’s Minnesota’s Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders, we treat more than 1,000 children with blood disorders each year. But that’s not all, we also treat more than 80% of kids and teens in Minnesota with a hemophilia diagnosis — just one of many bleeding disorders.
But, you may be wondering, what is a bleeding disorder and how do you know if you have one?
What is a bleeding or clotting disorder?
The CDC says, “Bleeding disorders are conditions in which the blood does not clot normally because certain proteins in the blood are missing or do not work properly.”
What are the symptoms of a bleeding disorder?
- Bleeding into joints, muscles and soft tissues.
- Easy and excessive bruising.
- Long, heavy menstrual periods.
- Unexplained nosebleeds.
- Extended bleeding after minor cuts, blood draws or vaccinations, minor surgery or dental procedures.
At Children’s Minnesota, our Center treats many bleeding disorders including:
- Platelet disorders
- Prothrombin gene mutations
- Von Willebrand disease
- Hemostasis
- Thrombocytosis
- Thrombophilia
- Thrombosis
Get to know our patients with bleeding disorders
You can get to know what living with a bleeding disorder, specifically hemophilia, is like from our patients and their families through our podcast series, StoryCorps.
Patients of all ages share what their experience is like living with hemophilia from day-to-day life to their care journeys and more. Plus, you can hear from parents and siblings and learn what their experiences with their loved one living with hemophilia has been like.
Listen to (or read!) over 10 episodes of these moving patient-family hemophilia stories.
The Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders
Our Center provides a complete range of care for children and adolescents with bleeding and thrombotic (clotting) disorders. Children’s Minnesota belongs to a nationwide network of federally funded Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) and is the only such program in the region focused solely on pediatrics.
This designation ensures that children and adolescents receive comprehensive care from a team of pediatric experts in bleeding and clotting disorders.