The information in this booklet will help you understand why you are taking a blood thinner and how to keep yourself healthy. Please take time to read all of the information in this booklet. There are different types of blood thinners. Your doctor may also discuss using one of the newer blood thinners depending on your individual situation. Always take your blood thinner as directed. For example, some blood thinners need to be taken at the same time of day, every day.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If this happens when your doctor is not available, skip the missed dose and start again the next day. Mark the missed dose in a diary or on a calendar. If something seems different, ask the pharmacist to double check it. Many medication errors are found by patients. Tell your doctor about every medicine you take. The doctor needs to know about all your medicines, including medicines you used before you started taking a blood thinner.
Other medicines can change the way your blood thinner works. Your blood thinner can also change how other medicines work. It is very important to talk with your doctor about all the medicines you take, including other prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
If you are taking a blood thinner, talk to your doctor before taking any medication that has aspirin in it. Medicines you get over the counter may also interact with your blood thinner. Following is a list of some common medicines that you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist about before using. Talk to your doctor about every medication and over-the-counter product that you take.
Because you take a blood thinner, you will be seen regularly by the doctor who prescribed the medicine. You may also see other doctors for different problems. When you see other doctors, it is very important that you tell them you are taking a blood thinner. You should also tell your dentist and the person who cleans your teeth.
Blood thinners can interact with medicines and treatments that other doctors might prescribe for you. If another doctor orders a new medicine for you, tell the doctor who ordered your blood thinner because dose changes for your blood thinner may be needed.
Tell all your doctors about every medication and over-the-counter product that you take. When taking a blood thinner it is important to be aware of its possible side effects. Bleeding is the most common side effect. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following signs of serious bleeding:. Call your doctor and go to the hospital immediately if you have had a fall or hit your head, even if you are not bleeding.
You can be bleeding but not see any blood. For example, if you fall and hit your head, bleeding can occur inside your skull. Or, if you hurt your arm during a fall and then notice a large purple bruise, this means you are bleeding under your skin.
Because you are taking a blood thinner, you should try not to hurt yourself and cause bleeding. You need to be careful when you use knives, scissors, razors, or any sharp object that can make you bleed. It may be safer to get vitamin E from foods rather than supplements. Foods that contain vitamin E include:. Besides its often desirable taste in food and cooking, garlic has natural antibiotic and antimicrobial properties.
Some research reports that odorless garlic powder demonstrates antithrombotic activities. An antithrombotic agent is a substance that reduces blood clot formation.
Another review of several studies on garlic suggests that it may thin the blood, although the effects are small and short-lived. The American Academy of Family Physicians nonetheless recommend that people stop taking high doses of garlic 7 to 10 days before a planned surgery because of its antithrombotic properties. Cinnamon contains coumarin, a powerful blood-thinning agent. Warfarin, the most commonly used blood-thinning drug, is derived from coumarin. Chinese cassia cinnamon contains a much higher coumarin content than Ceylon cinnamon.
Taking coumarin-rich cinnamon on a long-term basis can, however, cause liver damage. It may be best to stick to small amounts of cinnamon in the diet in addition to using other natural blood thinners.
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used leaves from the Ginkgo biloba tree for thousands of years. Ginkgo is also a very popular herbal supplement in the United States and Europe. People take it for blood disorders, memory problems, and low energy. Gingko thins the blood and has fibrinolytic effects, according to some sources. This means it may dissolve blood clots.
One study reports that ginkgo extract has similar effects to streptokinase, a drug used to treat blood clots. The research was, however, done in a laboratory, and not carried out on people or animals. Further research is necessary to see if gingko has the same effects in the human body.
There is some evidence to suggest that grape seed extract may have potential benefits for several heart and blood conditions. It contains antioxidants that may protect the blood vessels and prevent high blood pressure. Clotting is an important function that your body needs to heal itself, but some medical conditions, behaviors, or situations can cause dangerous blood clots to form. This can be life-threatening if a clot moves and blocks blood flow to your brain, heart, or lungs.
Blood thinners are usually prescribed for people who have conditions that affect healthy blood flow, including:. Some anticoagulants require you to have your blood checked regularly to make sure they are working properly. To avoid complications, it is very important to take your medicine exactly how your doctor tells you. Some other medicines and foods make blood thinners stronger or weaker. Talk to your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements, as well as your diet to make sure that you are not at risk of a bad interaction.
Once formed, platelets have a short lifespan of between 7 and 10 days. Thin blood is due to a low number of platelets. A range of factors may cause a low platelet count, including the following:.
Viral infections, such as HIV , hepatitis C , mumps, rubella, or the Epstein-Barr virus may cause platelet numbers to fall. Bone marrow disorders, such as leukemia and lymphoma , can also affect how many platelets are produced. Some people take blood-thinning medications to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Two main types of medication thin the blood:. The spleen produces platelets, so problems with the spleen can cause thin blood. Conditions that affect the spleen include:. Certain autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus SLE , can increase the number of platelets that are destroyed. If new platelets are not made fast enough, a person may have thin blood. CLD lowers thrombopoietin levels, which is the hormone responsible for stimulating platelet production.
Low thrombopoietin levels reduce the rate at which platelets are produced. Thin blood does not often have symptoms. It is usually diagnosed during a blood test for another condition. Low platelet counts can make it harder than usual for blood to clot, so anyone who experiences excessive or long-lasting bleeding, even from a minor cut, may have thin blood.
0コメント