This does not just mean taking your medication – it’s also important to keep on top of exercising, eating well, taking care of your emotional health, as well as your relationships.
Lifestyle
Healthy lifestyle
Regular exercise and a nutritious diet are essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our key advice is to:
– Exercise – The NHS recommends that adults spend one hundred and fifty minutes a week exercising.
– Fruit and vegetables – it is recommended that you try to have at least seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
– Supplements – if you have any deficiencies such as iron or vitamin D, you can talk to your GP and healthcare team about taking supplements. However, you should generally be able to get your recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals if you have a well-balanced diet.
– Alcohol – be sensible with the amount of alcohol you consume.
– Medication – make sure you are taking your medication as often as you need to.
You can read more on our recommendations regarding physical activity on the Sport and exercise page.
Relationships
It is likely that during this period of your life, you will explore new relationships and face new dilemmas such as when or whether to tell your significant other about your bleeding disorder or if you are a carrier. There is no right answer a lot of the time when it comes to opening up, it is up to you – only you can judge the situation, the seriousness of the relationship, and whether you want to tell your partner. However, promoting an open and honest relationship is a positive step for both of you, and can be a great opportunity for you to reassure your partner.
Furthermore, educating yourself and your partner in safe sex is important as well as considering how to avoid bleeds and what to expect. Sexual intercourse can cause bleeds, with certain positions increasing the likelihood. If you are a woman with a bleeding disorder you may be anxious about heavy periods. The best way to seek advice on these issues is to discuss them with a member of your healthcare team who you feel comfortable with.
Staying healthy
Ensuring your emotional wellbeing is essential. It is important to make sure you talk openly about any problems you have with people you trust, whether it’s a friend, family, or healthcare professional. Sharing your problems is the best way to move forward.
If you are a carrier of a bleeding disorder, you may want to talk to a health or social care worker who can support you with your journey into adulthood, or if you are a symptomatic patient you may want advice on how to manage independently. Always know that there are people around you to talk to. This could mean joining a support group, getting in contact with people in the same circumstance as you, or being referred to specialists who can help you to overcome more serious cases of anxiety and emotional strain.
You may be tempted to experiment with alcohol, drugs, and body art; and we can only advise that you become aware of the dangers involved in these activities. Firstly, the consumption of a significant amount of alcohol can impair judgement and cause a loss of coordination, which increases the likelihood of having an accident and so increases the risk of a bleed. Smoking and taking drugs pose the same dangers for people with bleeding disorders as people without, but you should keep in mind that using them can be dangerous because they affect your perceptions heavily which could lead to injury, and many are illegal. Body art poses many risks for people with bleeding disorders in terms of piercing the skin and possible infections, and so before getting any piercings or tattoos you need to think carefully about whether it is something you really want to do, and what you can do to stay as safe as possible.