Life-saving facts of blood thinners

Hyderabad: Any imbalance in blood components like coagulants and platelet cells leads to blockage of vessels or leakage of blood from the vessels, leading to life threatening diseases like ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular and cardiac diseases. To prevent fatalities through such diseases and as a precautionary measure, blood thinners are prescribed by physicians.

Dr Nekkanti Venkata Rayudu, senior consultant cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, shared his opinion about the benefits and precautions of taking blood thinners.With proper guidance and precautions, persons using blood thinners can lead a comfortable and risk-free life. Blood flows through major and minor blood vessels to supply oxygen, glucose, and nutrition to tissues and cells. 

Normally blood vessel tube lining is covered by smooth cells called endothelium.These endothelial cells are dynamic and regulate blood flow and prevent blockage of blood vessels and also leakage of blood from vessels. With aging, natural wear and tear, and persons with diabetes mellitus, smoking, high blood pressure patients and people with high cholesterol and excessive stress, lack of exercise, and overweight, the endothelium gets damaged and blood becomes thick and form clots. 

These clots block blood vessels of the heart, which causes heart attacks and brain vessels causing stroke and paralysis. To prevent clot formation, anticoagulants like heparin, vitamin-k antagonist called coumarins are prescribed.The antiplatelet and anti-coagulants are especially used in secondary prevention in patient with ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease. After angioplasty and stenting, these medicines are essential for a year.

To prevent clot formation in leg veins these medications are given for six months.The use of blood thinners has some price to pay. Though they are very useful in many cardiac diseases, some individuals develop side effects because of blood thinners. They are more chances of bleeding from skin, bones, stomach or sometimes from brain.

These side effects are more in people when they injure by fall or by accident. A person using this medication has to take precaution to prevent such incidents. Also before any surgery or dental extraction, these medicines have to be stopped before and can be restarted after the procedure.