Healthy Advice
Talk to your health care professional
Discussing diet and exercise with your doctor or nurse is a good way to start or continue living a healthy lifestyle. Remember, they are experts and can give you or your child the best advice for being healthy and staying healthy.
Healthy living with hemophilia B
Taking your dog for long walks, playing Frisbee® in the park, and eating right are just a few things you can do to live healthy. A big part to staying healthy is knowing what activities you or someone in your family can safely enjoy without taking unnecessary risks for causing a bleed.
Frisbee is a registered trademark of Wham-O, Inc.
Simple tips to follow
The easiest way to try to prevent bleeds and/or their consequences is to keep up basic good habits. You may already be practicing or encouraging some positive routines.
Downloadable materials
National Hemophilia Foundation sports ratings by activity
One key way to keep joints healthy is learning how to stay active while playing it safe. Participating in low-impact sports and activities is a great way to have fun with classmates, friends and family while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Click to download
Living with hemophilia B
A useful 72-page booklet addressing what hemophilia B is, how it may be treated, lifestyle tips by age group, and how to use an infusion log to keep on top of BeneFix therapy. Click to download
Below are some simple tips that can help
Exercise at least 3 times a week, or as advised by an orthopedist and physical therapist
Maintain an ideal body weight
Get a good night's sleep as often as possible
Always wear a seatbelt
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Maintain an infusion log (calendar) that shows the date and time of infusion, reason for infusion, and product name, lot number, and dosage
Reorder factor therapy before it runs out
Make sure your local hospital has your/your child's factor therapy on hand, just in case
Infuse before an activity that may put extra stress on the body
Always wear a medical alert tag
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Carry a letter from your/your child's doctor stating the type and severity of hemophilia you or your child has and a description of treatment needs
Eating right
Staying at a healthy weight is important for anyone with hemophilia, not just for children. Part of staying fit includes eating right—maintaining a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Being overweight can put additional pressure and stress on various parts of your body.
Check with the local hemophilia treatment center (HTC) or your local chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) for more information about nutrition and health.
Comprehensive care
HTCs provide comprehensive care for people with bleeding disorders. They attend to patients' and caregivers' medical, social, and emotional needs. Located all over the United States and sometimes internationally, HTCs can provide many services that a doctor's practice doesn't provide, including supply and delivery of factor, home infusion education, dental care, home visits by social workers, and insurance counseling. HTCs employ many types of specialists who work together to meet the complex challenges a person with a bleeding disorder may encounter.
Here are some things an HTC can provide
Providing or arranging for a physical exam once a year; check-up of joints, bones, and muscles; and a physical therapy check-up
Dental visit every 6 months
Blood tests and X-rays
Financial and/or emotional counseling with a social worker
Genetic counseling for potential parents
Education
Contact with local doctors and hospitals
Find out how Pfizer can assist you with co-pay, deductible, and coinsurance costs.
Real-life experiences
Real people. Real stories. Hear what others have to say about living with hemophilia B.
Rapid Reconstitution (R2) Video
See how to use BeneFix here!
Wherever you are, find local chapters, Hemophilia Treatment Centers, and contact information for hemophilia specialists.
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What Is BeneFix?
BeneFix® Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant) is an injectable medicine that is used to help control and prevent bleeding in people with hemophilia B. Hemophilia B is also called congenital factor IX deficiency or Christmas disease.
BeneFix is NOT used to treat hemophilia A.
Important Safety Information for BeneFix
BeneFix is contraindicated in patients who have manifested life-threatening, immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to the product or its components, including hamster protein.
Call your health care provider right away if your bleeding is not controlled after using BeneFix.
Allergic reactions may occur with BeneFix. Call your health care provider or get emergency treatment right away if you have any of the following symptoms: wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, your lips and gums turning blue, fast heartbeat, facial swelling, faintness, rash or hives.
Your body can make antibodies, called "inhibitors," which may interfere with the effectiveness of BeneFix.
If you have risk factors for developing blood clots, such as a venous catheter through which BeneFix is given by continuous infusion, BeneFix may increase the risk of abnormal blood clots. The safety and efficacy of BeneFix administration by continuous infusion have not been established.
Some common side effects of BeneFix are nausea, injection site reaction, injection site pain, headache, dizziness and rash.
*BeneFix was approved February 11, 1997.
Please see full Prescribing Information for BeneFix.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit
www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. All decisions about patient care must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
The product information provided in this site is intended for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.
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