This date was chosen to give visibility to those people who must undergo anticoagulant treatments due to their condition.
Each November 18 is celebrated on World Day of the Anticoagulated Patienta date that was decreed to pay tribute to people with this type of conditions and raise awareness among patients with this condition about the scope of the anticoagulants.
Remembering the importance of this type of treatment is extremely important, since if you do not do it, those who are unaware of their treatments and who do not have good monitoring of their condition may end up having a stroke or others hemorrhages.
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Who is considered anticoagulated patients?
A anticoagulated patient is that person with history of valvular heart disease or acute coronary syndrome who takes prescription anticoagulant medications required to prevent blood clotting, for the purpose of avoid embolisms and venous or arterial thrombosis.
Always under medical supervision, anticoagulated patients are recommended to follow the following indications:
- Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
- Have a balanced diet.
- Consume doses of vitamin K, common in the following foods: liver, fish, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, among others.
- Have regular blood tests to evaluate blood clotting time.
- Follow to the letter the medical treatment that has been indicated under prescription.
What are anticoagulants?
The anticoagulants are prescribed drugs under medical treatment to avoid or delay blood clotting time, preventing the formation of clots and their circulation through the bloodstream.
These medications reduce the risk of diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and blockages in the arteries and veins, although they cannot dissolve clots that have previously formed.
Some of the side effects or contraindications of anticoagulant medications are the following:
- Abdominal distension.
- Intestinal gases.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Loss of appetite.
- Frequent bruising.
- Jaundice.
- Hives or itching.
- Hair loss
Diagnosis and treatment of anticoagulated patients
For him diagnosis For patients with clotting problems, a blood test is performed to measure blood clotting time, as well as an MRI and phlebology, in order to identify the location of the blood clot or clots in the body.
The treatments Recommended for anticoagulated patients are the following, applicable according to each case:
- Anticoagulants: intramuscular route (heparin, fondaparinux) or orally (warfarin, dabigatran, sintrom).
- Thrombolytic medications: for the elimination and dissolution of clots, indicated in cases with a higher risk of bleeding.
- Embolectomy: surgery to remove clots that cause blockages in the lungs in patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.
- Thrombosectomy: surgical intervention for the removal of clots, in patients who have been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.
- Inferior vena cava filter: by inserting a filter into the vein that returns blood to the heart, to contain clots that are moving.
Source: Ambito
