Blood thinners medications are the ones that decrease platelet aggregation. Your body has a natural phenomenon to clot the blood with the help of clotting factors if bleeding occurs.
However, sometimes the healthcare provider may prescribe you anticoagulants or blood thinners so that unnecessary clotting does not occur inside your body. Most commonly, you need to take them if you have any cardiovascular disease.
With blood thinners therapy, you need to take extra care of yourself as a little cut can lead to too much bleeding. In this article, we will tell you the tips that you must keep in mind with anticoagulant or blood thinner therapy. If you have symptoms of any blood disease, you can visit a hematologist in Lahore.
If you accidentally miss a dose, do not double it up. Consult with your healthcare provider about when and how many doses of the blood thinner you need.
When you move from one place to another or do some physical activity, you must be extra vigilant. A little cut can lead to excessive bleeding because your blood lacks clotting factors.
If you are dealing with some sharp object such as gardening tools, knife or scissors, wear gloves.
Men need to take extra care while shaving. Instead of using sharp blades, it is better to use an electric shaver.
Wear shoes as much as you can. Shoes protect your foot from getting injured. A foot injury can lead to bleeding. Therefore you need to exercise caution.
To clean your teeth, use a soft toothbrush. Hard bristles can lead to bleeding. Also, use waxed dental floss for flossing.
When riding a bike, do not forget to wear a helmet. Moreover, consult with your healthcare provider first before taking part in any sports or physical activity.
In your wallet, keep a note of all the medicines you take and the health conditions you have. So that, in case of an emergency, people can know about your medical history.
If you fall, visit the healthcare provider soon, even if there is no bleeding. Moreover, if you notice any bruise, you should visit the emergency soon as it can be a sign of internal bleeding.
Whenever your doctor is prescribing some other medication, tell them that you are taking blood thinners. In this way, drug-drug interaction can be reduced.
Do not take over-the-counter medications on your own. Always ask a pharmacist or your doctor before taking any medication. Do not take any NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, as they can potentiate bleeding when combined with blood thinners.
If you notice blood in cough, urine, or stool, visit your healthcare provider soon.
Your healthcare provider will tell you to get some tests done frequently. Make sure you get them done on time. These tests can help them know how much the dose of blood-thinning drugs needs to be lowered or increased.
If you are undergoing any surgery, tell your healthcare provider that you take blood-thinning medications. Most probably, they will stop your medications some days before the procedure. If you do not stop taking the blood coagulation medicines before surgery, it can cause excessive bleeding- a life-threatening condition.
If you take warfarin as an anticoagulant, you need to avoid foods that contain vitamin K. Foods that contain vitamin K are:
Asparagus
Broccoli
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Soybean oil
Soybeans
Spinach
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Collard
Turnip
Mustard greens
Green onions
The bottom line
You need to take extra care of yourself or your loved ones if you or they take blood thinners. A single cut can become problematic for them due to excessive bleeding.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe it based on the risk versus benefit ratio. If you have a complaint of bleeding, you should visit the hematologist in Karachi.