Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those impacted with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders through education, advocacy, and support.
About Us.
Central California Hemophilia Foundation Cares About You.
The Central California Hemophilia Foundation is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with bleeding disorders in North Central California. From Siskiyou to Madera, we have you covered.
We serve as the community liaison between you, your family, medical professionals, and government leaders.
We are a National Hemophilia Foundation Chapter and work in cooperation with the Hemophilia Council of California. We are proud supporters of the World Federation of Hemophilia and the Hemophilia Federation of America. We are also affiliated with Region IX Network of Hemophilia Treatment Centers, UC Davis Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center, Save One Life, and Kiwanis Family House.
Bleeding Disorders
A bleeding disorder can be caused by defects in the blood vessels or abnormalities in the blood itself. These abnormalities might be found in blood clotting factors or platelets. Either way, people with bleeding disorders tend to bleed longer than those without a disorder. The danger with bleeding disorders usually lies in internal bleeding more than paper cuts.
Bleeding Disorders is a general term for a wide range of medical problems that lead to poor blood clotting and continuous bleeding. You may hear them referred to as: coagulopathy, abnormal bleeding, and clotting disorders.
Blood clotting, or coagulation, is the process that controls bleeding. It changes blood from a liquid into a solid. Coagulation is how your body forms a scab when you scrape your knee on the sidewalk. It's a complex process that involves as many as 20 different plasma proteins, or blood clotting factors. Normally, these clotting factors form a substance called fibrin that stops bleeding. When certain coagulation factors are deficient or missing, the process doesn't occur normally.
We also mentioned platelets. They too are involved in coagulation. If they are defective or absent, your body cannot form a clot (or scab) and stop bleeding.
There are four common types of bleeding disorders:
Hemophilia A
When someone is missing or has defective factor VIII, they have Hemophilia A. Factor VIII is a clotting protein, essential in the body’s coagulation process. This is a genetic disorder associated with the X chromosome, making it most common in males. It is also known as “Factor VIII Deficiency” or “Classic Hemophilia.”
Hemophilia B
Hemophilia B is caused by missing or defective factor IX, a clotting protein. This is a genetic disorder associated with the X chromosome, making it more common in males than females. It is also known as “Factor IX Deficiency” or “Christmas Disease.”
von Willebrand Disease
von Willebrand Disease is caused by missing or defective von Willebrand Factor. It may also be caused by low levels of von Willebrand Factor. This is the most common bleeding disorder. 1 in 100 Americans have von Willebrand Disease.
Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia
Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (GT) is a type of platelet disorder. Those with GT lack a specific glycoprotein which tells the platelets to stick together. Without the glycoprotein, they are unable to form clots to stop bleeding.
Board of Directors
Medical Disclaimer:
The information contained on the Central California Hemophilia Foundation (CCHF) website is provided for general information only.
CCHF does not provide medical advice or participate in the practice of medicine.
CCHF does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment for individuals.
CCHF recommends discussing all options for medical treatment with your physician or local treatment center before pursuing, changing or stopping any course of treatment.