Blood thinners are medications that are used to thin or improve blood flow throughout the body. In addition, blood thinners can also prevent the formation of blood clots which are the culprits for the emergence of various serious diseases, such as stroke and coronary heart disease.
Blood thinners are generally needed by people with certain medical conditions, such as coronary heart disease, blood vessel disease, heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation, heart valve replacement, congenital heart defects (congenital), deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and people who are at risk of developing blood clots after surgery.
Type Blood Thinner ywhat you need to know
Blood thinners are generally divided into two groups of drugs, namely antiplatelet and anticoagulant. Check out the detailed explanation below:
Antiplatelet
Antiplatelets are a group of blood thinners that function to prevent blood platelets (platelets) from sticking together, so blood clots don't form. Some types of antiplatelet blood thinning drugs are:
- Aspirin
- Clopidogrel
- Ticagrelor
- Triflusal
- Ticlopidine
- Eptifibatide
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are blood thinners that block the action of blood clotting factors, thereby slowing the process of blood clot formation in your body. Some types of anticoagulant blood thinning drugs are:
- warfarin
- Heparin
- Enoxaparin
- Fondaparinux
- Rivaroxaban
- Dabigatran
- Apixaban
Risk of Side Effects of Blood Thinning Medications
Blood-thinning medications can cause side effects in some people. Bleeding is the most common side effect and can occur in various forms, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, urinating blood, bloody stools, excessive bleeding during menstruation or injury, or even hemorrhagic stroke.
Some of the side effects of taking other blood-thinning medications include:
- Stomach pain
- Dizzy
- Weak muscles
- Hair loss
- Red rash on the skin
To reduce the risk of bleeding after taking blood-thinning drugs, doctors will usually limit activities that are prone to impact, such as soccer. However, you can still do safe sports such as walking, jogging, or swimming.
In addition to drugs, blood thinners can also be found in natural ingredients, such as turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and food sources of vitamin E. However, you need to remember that the effects of natural blood thinners still need to be studied further and not It is recommended to take it with blood thinners.
Blood thinners can interact with natural blood thinners in food or with certain vitamins and medications, increasing the risk of side effects.
Therefore, if you are taking blood thinners, make sure you have regular check-ups according to a schedule and follow the doctor's recommendations regarding the rules for using them. If you experience symptoms of side effects appearing, visit your doctor immediately because it is possible that the dose or the rules for using your drug need to be lowered.