With greater public awareness of how to lead a balanced life as well as improved treatments across medicine, you can look after your body and mind ensuring longevity and greater quality of life.

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 people over the age of sixty-five exercise (aerobic and muscle strengthening) for one hundred and fifty minutes a week
– 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 deficiency, 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’re taking your medication as often as you need to

You can read more on our recommendations regarding physical activity in the Sport and exercise page.

Maintaining emotional and mental wellbeing is also important, so if you ever feel like you need support, remember you can talk openly and confidentially with your healthcare team at the haemophilia centre. They can also put you in contact with patient groups and charities, enabling you to lead a happy and balanced life. You can find out more information by following the links below.


Additional health problems
Just like everyone else, you need to be aware of age-related diseases so that you can protect yourself and be able to recognise early signs. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and strokes in particular affect a large proportion of people – so if you are concerned about your health or want to know more about any positive steps you can take to look after yourself, talk to your haemophilia centre. Furthermore, if you need to have any diagnostic tests or require a referral to another medical service, they can also help with that.

Conditions such as osteoporosis, a condition which causes the bones to become weak, and joint damage affect people with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia in particular. We recommend combating the development of bone and joint related problems through resistance exercises and weight bearing e.g. dancing, walking, and tennis, which have been shown to increase bone density and improve overall bone health. Always discuss new exercise regimes with your physiotherapist and haemophilia centre beforehand to avoid potential injuries or bleeds.