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Best Blood Thinners To Prevent Heart Attack And Stroke
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Generated by cloudfront (CloudFront) Request ID: jqWvnbJAUjV3uPTKVITOHadvWB8cZmbr-8RSj2COt3pCUPtmhx4z8w==Blood Thinner Basics
Blood thinners are medicines that help blood flow smoothly through your veins and arteries. They keep blood clots from forming or getting bigger. They're used to treat some types of heart disease and heart defects, along with other conditions that could raise your risk of forming dangerous clots.
These drugs help protect against heart attacks and strokes. But they also come with risks: For example, they'll cause you to bleed more than usual if you cut yourself.
The lifesaving benefits of these drugs often outweigh the potential dangers. But it's important to learn about both before you start taking them.
There are two. The first is called anticoagulants. These keep your blood from clotting or turning into solid clumps of cells that stick together. Most come in pill form, but some are given as a shot or as an IV through one of your veins. Some of the more widely known anticoagulants include:
The second class of blood thinners is called antiplatelets. These target tiny particles in the blood called platelets. They come in pill form and include:
Blood thinners don't actually make your blood thinner. Nor can they break up clots. But they do keep new clots from forming. They can also slow the growth of existing ones.
Some anticoagulants do this by competing with vitamin K from the liver. Your body needs this to make proteins called clotting factors. These help blood cells and platelets (tiny pieces of blood cells) bind together.
Antiplatelets keep platelets from sticking to each other and to the walls of blood vessels, forming clots. These drugs are weaker than anticoagulants. They're often prescribed to people at risk for future blood clots, rather than to treat existing ones.
About 2 million to 3 million people take blood thinners every year. You may need them if you've already had a heart attack or a stroke, since they can lower your risk of having a second one.
You may also need blood thinners if you have a heart or blood vessel disease, an irregular heart rhythm, lupus, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That's a dangerous type of blood clot that often forms in the leg. Your risk of getting blood clots is also higher if you're overweight, you've recently had surgery, or you have an artificial heart valve.
Some people only need blood thinners for a few months. But if you have ongoing health problems, you may need to take them long-term.
Clotting isn't always a bad thing. When you cut yourself, that's what seals your wound and keeps you from losing too much blood. But blood thinners prevent clotting. So even tiny cuts or bruises will bleed a lot more if you take these drugs.
You should be very careful when taking part in activities that could cause any type of injury. Call your doctor right away if you fall or hit your head. Even if you don't tear your skin, you could bleed internally.
Let your doctor know right away if you notice any signs of unusual bleeding, like:
You may lose bone strength if you take heparin for a long time. This raises your chances of breaking a bone. Another serious, but less common, side effect of warfarin is necrosis. That's when your skin starts to die.
If you take an anticoagulant like warfarin, you'll need regular blood tests so your doctor can adjust your levels if needed. Ask them about other steps you should take to stay safe while you're on this medication.
If you get a dangerous bleeding problem while taking warfarin, doctors can turn to an "antidote" of vitamin K or a combination of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and fresh frozen plasma to stop it. In addition, approval has been given for using a reversal agent like andexanet alfa (Andexxa) to reverse the anti-clotting effects of apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto), or idarucizumab (Praxbind) to reverse the anti-clotting effects of dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) in emergencies.
Other medicines and supplements, including over-the-counter ones, can interfere with these drugs. Tell all of your doctors, including your dentist, that you're taking a blood thinner. Don't start any new medicines without their OK.
And remember that what you eat is also very important. Some foods – like green, leafy vegetables – contain vitamin K. This can counteract blood thinners. Ask your doctor if you're not sure a certain food or drink is safe.
Get your blood checked often if you're on warfarin or heparin. This is an international normalized ratio (INR) test. It tells you how long it takes your blood to clot.
You can also try to stop uncontrollable bleeding before it starts. Here are a few tips:
Other tips include:
Pay attention to how much vitamin K you're getting. It helps your blood clot. But too much can stop warfarin from working. Talk to your doctor to find the right balance.
Don't drink too much alcohol. This raises your risk of bleeding. One to two drinks a day is a safe amount.
Tell peopleyou're on a blood thinner. Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card with your medications on it. Make sure your doctor, dentist, and other health care providers know. Tell them if you also take herbal supplements or vitamins.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. You may have a blood clot. They include:
Some are considered safe to take during pregnancy. Others aren't. Talk to your doctor if you're on blood thinners and thinking about having a baby. They'll let you know the next steps. If you're already pregnant, double check with your doctor to make sure the blood thinner you're on won't harm the baby.
Von Willebrand Disease Vs. Hemophilia
Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease (VWD) are bleeding disorders that share similar symptoms. Both conditions make it more difficult for the blood to clot.
Both conditions can also be genetic, meaning a person inherits them from their biological parents. However, people can develop these disorders due to other factors, too. There are also differences in their symptoms and management.
Keep reading to learn about the differences and similarities between VWD and hemophilia, how doctors can tell them apart, and the treatment options.
Hemophilia and VWD are bleeding disorders that people typically inherit from their biological parents, meaning the conditions are present from birth. They both cause problems with clotting factors in the blood, which makes it harder for the blood to form clots.
This can be a problem if a person gets a cut or injury and the wound cannot stop bleeding or if a person needs a medical procedure, such as surgery. People who menstruate may also experience heavy periods.
Hemophilia is more common in males. People with this disorder may also experience muscle and joint discomfort due to bleeding. VWD has similar odds of occurring in any person, regardless of their sex.
Learn more about blood disorders.
The symptoms of hemophilia and VWD can be very similar, and may include:
People with hemophilia may also develop the following as a result of internal bleeding:
To diagnose whether an individual has hemophilia or VWD, doctors need to perform a combination of tests and ask about the medical history of the person's family.
The tests may include:
Doctors may also diagnose a condition based on a person's symptoms. For example, if an individual is experiencing pain or stiffness in their joints, this may be a sign of hemophilia.
Hemophilia and VWD are both genetic conditions but are related to different chromosomes.
Chromosomes are DNA molecules that house genes, which control how bodies grow and develop. In humans, one pair of chromosomes influences their sex. Females have two X chromosomes, whereas males have an X and Y chromosome.
Hemophilia inheritanceHemophilia usually occurs due to a difference in genes on the X chromosome.
Because females have two X chromosomes, the genes for hemophilia are less likely to affect them, as they have a higher chance of having at least one typical X chromosome.
If a female parent is a carrier of the gene, their male children have a 25% chance of developing hemophilia, and their female children have a 25% chance of carrying the gene.
Males will always pass their X chromosome to their daughters and their Y chromosome to their sons.
This means that male parents cannot pass hemophilia down to their male children, as they will pass on their Y chromosome. Their female children will have a 50% chance of becoming carriers.
VWD inheritanceIn contrast, females and males have the same odds of developing VWD.
This is because VWD does not have links to the X chromosome. Any parent can pass it down to their children, regardless of sex.
A person may also develop this disorder even if their parents do not have VWD. This is because either parent may carry a gene for VWD without having symptoms.
Rare causesIn some rare cases, people may develop these disorders due to other conditions or as a side effect of taking certain medications.
Hemophilia treatment involves injections of synthetic clotting factors that help replace those that do not work or are missing.
This can help prevent or stop bleeding. Doctors may also prescribe medications that people with this condition have to take regularly to manage the disorder.
The treatment for VWD can vary depending on its severity. Milder cases may not need treatment apart from avoiding medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin. More severe cases may require injections of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein that helps blood clot.
Doctors may also recommend using a specific nasal spray called desmopressin acetate to help the body release more VWF and taking antifibrinolytic drugs, which prevent the breakdown of blood clots.
Here are answers to some common questions about VWD and hemophilia.
Is VWD a type of hemophilia?No, VWD is not a type of hemophilia. Both conditions are bleeding disorders, but they are not the same illness.
Can you have both VWD and hemophilia?As the conditions occur due to inherited changes in different genes, people can inherit the genes for both VWD and hemophilia.
Do females with hemophilia menstruate?It is very rare for females to have hemophilia. Those that do can still menstruate, but they may have heavy periods.
That said, it is important to note that most females who carry a hemophilia gene do not have hemophilia. They only carry a copy of the gene. This sometimes results in symptoms, but these may be less severe.
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) and hemophilia are bleeding disorders that can cause similar symptoms, including excessive bleeding from cuts and wounds, recurring nosebleeds, easy bruising, heavy periods in females, and slow healing after surgery.
Both conditions are usually the result of genetics. Hemophilia is more prevalent in males, while people of all sexes have the same chance of developing VWD.
The treatments for each condition are different, so getting the correct diagnosis is important. People who have concerns that they may have a bleeding disorder should speak with a healthcare professional.
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