Hemophilia
Definition
Hemophilia is a genetic disorder where blood doesn't clot normally because it lacks sufficient blood-clotting proteins (clotting factors).
Analogy
Consider hemophilia as having a car without brakes. Just as brakes stop a car from moving, clotting factors stop bleeding. Without these 'brakes', the body can't stop bleeding when it needs to.
Related terms
Coagulation: The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming clots.
Factor VIII and Factor IX: These are specific proteins in your blood that help with clotting. Deficiencies in these factors lead to different types of hemophilia.
Genetic Disorder: A disease caused by abnormalities in an individual's genetic material (genome).
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