U.K. Woman Treats Symptoms of VWD with Over-the-Counter Medication

Rona Macdonald, a 41-year-old woman from the United Kingdom (U.K.), experienced regular nose bleeds since childhood. However, it was not until she reached her 20s that she was diagnosed with von Willebrand disease (VWD). She is one of 600,000 people in the U.K. estimated by the London-based Haemophilia Society, to have VWD. Nose bleeds, along with heavy and prolonged periods, and easy bruising are generally accepted as warning signs of a bleeding disorder, although only 5,000 women in the U.K. have been diagnosed.

Rona has inherited Type 1 VWD, a milder form of the disorder. “I had always been prone
to regular nose bleeds, which often seemed to happen in the most embarrassing situations. When I was younger it wasn’t uncommon for me to suffer several nose bleeds a week. Some could last for ten minutes before I managed to stop them,” she said. Her symptoms, which are less severe than in other subtypes of VWD, are manageable with treatment. Rona is able to treat her chronic nose bleeds with a readily available product. Nasal plugs, manufactured by the biopharmaceutical research and development company SEAL-ON, may be used to treat this bleeding symptom. The plug acts as a sponge by filling the nasal cavity and absorbing blood, while also releasing a powder that expedites the clotting process. This over-the-counter product is available in the U.S. and the U.K.

Source: Daily Mail (London), October 11, 2005