Blood Thinners Effective with Careful Management

04/17/08 Treatment Options

Blood- thinning drugs are often prescribed for patients with mechanical heart valves or those with atrial fibrillation, a condition that prevents the small upper chambers of the heart from beating regularly and fully pumping the blood out of them. The remaining blood can pool and potentially cause a dangerous clot.

Blood thinners are also given to patients after knee or hip replacement surgery and those who have had a stroke. One blood thinner, heparin, is often used to flush or ‘unblock’ a central or peripheral line in a patient who is receiving long-term antibiotics or chemotherapy.

Recently, tainted heparin from China has been in the news. The active ingredient in the drug is made from pig intestines dried in homes and small factories in a specific area of China. Heparin linked to this source has been recalled, but if heparin is prescribed for you or a family member, you may want to ask your doctor to check the source of the medicine.

Aspirin is a blood thinner often prescribed after a heart attack while the precise dosage of other medications is being worked out. Warfarin, known by the brand name, Coumadin, is a frequently prescribed blood thinner. All anticoagulant (blood thinning) drugs work by blocking the effect of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. They are effective medicines but can be difficult to manage. Taking too much can cause serious bleeding; not taking enough means blood clots can form.

If a blood thinner is prescribed, tell your health care team about every medicine, vitamin, and herbal supplement you take as some interact with the drugs and could make your blood either too thick or too thin. Diet is another factor to discuss. You may be told to avoid foods high in vitamin K such as spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, and turnip greens.  However, if you already eat these veggies on a regular basis you may be given the green light to continue. The key is a consistent, balanced diet.

If you take a blood thinner, your blood will be tested regularly to determine the precise dose that works for you. You might experience minor bruising, but if you note anything more serious like bleeding from a small cut that doesn’t stop, call your doctor immediately.

Mari S. Gold is has written for The New York Times, American Profile, Relish Magazine, TravelSmart, Indianapolis Monthly, and numerous e-zines. An avid cook and foodie, she contributes restaurant reviews to Zagat Guides and The Vermont News Guide, and is working on a young adult novel with a food theme. Married with grown children and two cats, she divides her time between New York City where she is director of communications for a major health care organization, and Dorset, Vermont.