What is the Difference Between Anemia and Hemophilia

The key difference between anemia and hemophilia is that anemia is a blood disorder due to the lack of enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues, while hemophilia is a blood disorder due to improper clotting of blood.

Blood disorders can affect any of the three main components of the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood disorders can also affect the liquid portion of the blood called plasma. There are various blood disorders, including blood clots, anemia, hemophilia, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), sickle cell disease, thalassemia, vitamin k deficiency bleeding, and Von Willebrand disease.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Anemia  
3. What is Hemophilia
4. Similarities – Anemia and Hemophilia
5. Anemia vs Hemophilia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Anemia vs Hemophilia

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a medical condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. This condition is also referred to as having low hemoglobin, which can make people tired and weak. There are different types of anemia with different causes. These causes include iron shortage, vitamin B12 deficiency, certain diseases (HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, Crohn’s disease, and other acute and chronic inflammatory diseases), infections, certain medicines, autoimmune diseases, exposure to toxic chemicals, diseases associated with bone marrow (leukemia and myelofibrosis), inherited blood destruction where blood cells are destroyed faster than their production rate, and inherited defective form of hemoglobin. Therefore, anemia generally has more than one cause for anemia. Anemia can be temporary or long-term. Moreover, anemia can also range from mild to severe.

The signs and symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath, dizziness or light-headedness, chest pain, cold hands and feet, and headaches. Anemia can be diagnosed through physical examinations, complete blood tests, and blood tests to detect the size and shape of the red blood cells. Furthermore, the treatment options for anemia include providing oxygen, pain relievers, oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications, folic acid supplements, blood transfusions, and antibiotics.

What is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a medical condition that occurs when the blood does not clot properly. It occurs due to a genetic deficiency in certain proteins (clotting factors), which help the blood clot. Sometimes it can be acquired as well due to pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and drug reactions. There are several forms of hemophilia. These can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.

The signs and symptoms of hemophilia include unexplained and excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries or after surgeries, many large and deep bruises, pain, swelling or tightness in the joints, blood in the urine or stool, nose bleeds without cause, and unexplained irritability in infants. Moreover, hemophilia can be diagnosed through medical and family history, physical examination, and clotting factor tests. Furthermore, treatment options for hemophilia include replacement clotting factors, decompression drugs like emicizumab, clot-preventing medications (anti-fibrinolytic), fibrin secants, physical therapy, and first aid for minor cuts.

What are the Similarities Between Anemia and Hemophilia?

• Anemia and hemophilia are two different types of blood disorders
• Both disorders can be inherited.
• Both disorders are associated with problems in the red blood cells.
• These disorders can cause life-threatening complications.
• Both disorders can be diagnosed through blood tests.
• They are treated through specific medications.

What is the Difference Between Anemia and Hemophilia?

Anemia is a blood disorder occurring due to a lack of enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues, while hemophilia is a blood disorder occurring due to blood not clotting properly. Thus, this is the key difference between anemia and hemophilia. Furthermore, anemia is caused by the iron shortage, vitamin B12 deficiency, certain diseases (HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, kidney disease,  and other acute and chronic inflammatory diseases), infections, certain medicines,  autoimmune diseases, exposure to toxic chemicals, diseases associated with bone marrow disease (leukemia and myelofibrosis), inherited blood destruction, and inherited defective form of hemoglobin. On the other hand, hemophilia is caused by a genetic deficiency of certain proteins, pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and drug reactions.

The below infographic presents the differences between anemia and hemophilia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Anemia vs Hemophilia

Anemia and hemophilia are two different types of blood disorders that can be inherited. They affect the main component of the blood, red blood cells. Anemia is a blood disorder occurring due to a lack of enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to tissues, while hemophilia is a blood disorder occurring due to blood not clotting properly. So, this is the key difference between anemia and hemophilia.

Reference:

1. “Anemia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Haemophilia.” NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Iron deficiency anemia” By E. Uthman, MD – (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “A woman suffering from Hemophilia” By Myupchar (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia