 What is an Anti-coagulant?
An Anti-coagulant is a drug that helps prevent the clotting (coagulation) of blood. These drugs prevent new clots formation or an existing clot from enlarging. However they don't dissolve a blood clot. Anti-coagulants are also given to certain people at risk for forming blood clots, such as those with artificial heart valves or who have atrial fibrillation.
Anti-coagulants are commonly prescribed for people with the following conditions, or who have undergone certain medical procedures. These include: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), Coronary Artery disease with unstable angina, certain types of heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, cerebral thrombosis, valvular heart disease and other conditions as prophylactic use in blood coagulation.
When a blood clot blocks blood flow to an artery in the heart or brain, a heart attack or stroke may result respectively. Blood clots can also block veins and arteries throughout the body, causing diseases that range from deep vein thrombosis to life threatening pulmonary embolism. |
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