Essay On Anticoagulant Therapy
Bleeding Precautions When on Anticoagulant Therapy, Adult
WHAT IS ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY?
Anticoagulant therapy is medicine that helps prevent or reduce blood clots. It is also called blood thinner therapy. Blood clots that form in your blood vessels can be dangerous. They can break loose and travel to the heart, lungs, or brain. This increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or blocked lung artery (pulmonary embolism). Anticoagulant therapy causes blood to clot more slowly.
Anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding. Try to protect yourself from cuts and other injuries that can cause bleeding. It is important that you take anticoagulants exactly as told by your health care provider.
WHY DO I NEED TO BE ON ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY?
You …show more content…
○ Aspirin.
○ Clopidogrel.
These anticoagulants work in different ways to prevent blood clots. They also have different risks and side effects.
WHAT DO I NEED TO REMEMBER WHEN TAKING ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY?
• If you are taking warfarin, have blood tests as told by your health care provider.
• Make an eating plan with a diet specialist (dietitian). Do not make any sudden changes to your diet after you have made your eating plan.
• Do not get pregnant. This medicine may cause birth defects.
• Take your medicine at the same time every day. If you forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you remember. If you miss a whole day, do not double your dose of medicine. Take your normal dose and call your health care provider.
• Do not stop taking your medicine without talking with your health care provider. This can increase your risk of developing a blood clot.
• Get your health care provider’s approval before you start taking any new medicine, vitamin, or herbal product. Some of these could interfere with your therapy.
• Tell all of your health care providers that you are on anticoagulant therapy. This is especially important to do before you have any surgery, medical procedures, or dental work
WHAT IS ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY?
Anticoagulant therapy is medicine that helps prevent or reduce blood clots. It is also called blood thinner therapy. Blood clots that form in your blood vessels can be dangerous. They can break loose and travel to the heart, lungs, or brain. This increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or blocked lung artery (pulmonary embolism). Anticoagulant therapy causes blood to clot more slowly.
Anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding. Try to protect yourself from cuts and other injuries that can cause bleeding. It is important that you take anticoagulants exactly as told by your health care provider.
WHY DO I NEED TO BE ON ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY?
You …show more content…
○ Aspirin.
○ Clopidogrel.
These anticoagulants work in different ways to prevent blood clots. They also have different risks and side effects.
WHAT DO I NEED TO REMEMBER WHEN TAKING ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY?
• If you are taking warfarin, have blood tests as told by your health care provider.
• Make an eating plan with a diet specialist (dietitian). Do not make any sudden changes to your diet after you have made your eating plan.
• Do not get pregnant. This medicine may cause birth defects.
• Take your medicine at the same time every day. If you forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you remember. If you miss a whole day, do not double your dose of medicine. Take your normal dose and call your health care provider.
• Do not stop taking your medicine without talking with your health care provider. This can increase your risk of developing a blood clot.
• Get your health care provider’s approval before you start taking any new medicine, vitamin, or herbal product. Some of these could interfere with your therapy.
• Tell all of your health care providers that you are on anticoagulant therapy. This is especially important to do before you have any surgery, medical procedures, or dental work