Blood thinners are used to treat serious medical conditions that can be life-threatening if left untreated. While this medication is both revolutionary and necessary, certain blood thinners may have risks. Wearing a medical bracelet is an effective way to stay safe without disrupting everyday activities while on medication.
What Are Blood Thinners?
Blood thinners are designed to prevent blood from clotting. These clots can cause serious medical issues such as heart attacks or strokes. By taking blood thinners daily, blood can flow easily in the arteries and veins.
There are two main types of blood thinners used to prevent health issues. Antiplatelet drugs can be purchased over the counter. Aspirin, for example, is an antiplatelet drug that many people use daily to prevent blood cells from clumping.
Anticoagulants are another popular blood thinning agent. These drugs are designed to slow down the body’s ability to create clots and can be used in an outpatient setting. Anticoagulant medications include Coumadin or warfarin. These kinds of blood thinners are prescribed by a physician and can have side effects such as muscle weakness and bruising.
Because these medications are used to thin the blood, falls or other accidents can cause excessive bleeding. If this occurs it is important to receive medical attention as soon as possible. Wearing a medical coumadin bracelet is a secure way to access care.
Types of Blood Thinners
Most blood thinners come in pill form. For immediate blood thinning, there are injectable medications that a patient can use every few hours. Blood thinners are widely used to treat Atrial Fibrillation, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Lupus, and irregular heart rhythms.
Heparin and warfarin are some of the most commonly prescribed anticoagulants. Depending on a person’s diet, these medications can affect the ability to heal. Excessive amounts of vitamin K may cause increased bleeding from even the most basic of cuts.
The importance of an medical ID bracelet
Wearing a medical ID at all times ensures your medical conditions are immediately known in an emergency.
When first responders see a MedicAlert ID, they know to contact MedicAlert to get your complete health record.
Get protected 24/7 with a MedicAlert ID and membership.
What Are Blood Thinner Risks?
Even life-saving medication can have risks. Excessive bleeding is a well-known risk when taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. Because blood-thinning agents can make some patients feel dizzy, falling is more likely to occur.
Common side effects of these drugs include weakness, fatigue, dizziness, heavy menstrual periods, nosebleeds, and prolonged bleeding. Alcohol consumption can exacerbate these symptoms and increase the risk of a fall. In the case of specific accidents or falls, internal bleeding can be a possibility. Frequent bruising is an indication that the body is able to bleed more easily and can be a sign of serious injury.
Internal bleeding after an injury is a serious condition that needs medical assistance. Head injuries are especially problematic even if there’s minimal pain. Head injuries of any kind should be examined as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Several drug interactions can occur. Diet plays a crucial role in how this medication impacts the body. Vitamin K can reduce effectiveness in certain anticoagulants. Blood thinner usage can affect the absorption of nutrients. Moderate the consumption of foods like cabbage, broccoli, kale, or spinach.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Blood Thinners?
Blood thinners can be for long or short-term use. Stopping blood thinners for any reason can increase the risk of excessive blood clotting.
Depending on the type of blood thinner, some medications will lose their effects faster than others. Just because a patient stops taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs doesn’t mean the medication is out of their system immediately. This can be misleading for many people.
Even after discontinuing a blood thinner, the risk for excessive bleeding continues until the medication has completely left the body. Popular drugs like warfarin will lose their effect within a few days after discontinuing use.
Abruptly stopping blood thinners is seldom advised. This can dramatically increase the risk of a blood clot to the brain. Even after tapering, patients must be careful to avoid any risk of falling.
Signs to Look For
In some cases, blood clotting issues can be anticipated. Blood in the urine, heavy menstrual periods, migraines, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain are all potential warning signs that something isn’t right. This could be due to a blood clot or internal bleeding.
Certain foods may increase dizziness. Broccoli, blueberries, and spinach can prevent the medication from working. If there is an increase in side effects after eating foods high in vitamin K, this can be a sign of blood clotting. If a fall does occur, bruising can be an indication of additional internal bleeding.
The Aftermath
After fully detoxing from blood-thinning medication, patients may still be at risk. During the following several months, there is a potential risk for problematic blood clotting. This period will likely involve follow-up appointments with a physician and monitoring.
Those who live alone may not have adequate help if health issues arise at this time. Blood clots need to be treated immediately by medical professionals. If others in the household work or are out of the house for extended periods, a safety plan should be in place.
Do You Need to Wear A Medical Bracelet for Blood Thinners?
Life on blood thinners can be tricky. Monitoring vitamins, supplements, and overall diet is important to make sure the blood is not too thin or too thick. Having support is key to the safety of this treatment. A medical ID is a potentially life-saving bracelet for anyone on anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicine.
A medical warfarin bracelet allows the patient to list all their medical conditions and medications prescribed for them. It also informs healthcare workers whether a patient has a pacemaker or other medical device. For those who have blood clotting issues, the type of blood is also recorded in case of excessive bleeding.
Since blood thinners can cause bleeding from seemingly-benign accidents, a bracelet will allow emergency healthcare workers to use reversal agents. This will help safely clot the blood so that professionals can treat the patient. Excessive bleeding can be life-threatening without the right information and treatment.
A medical ID bracelet has vital information inscribed on it to provide emergency healthcare workers. If there is a medical emergency such as a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism, this information is critical for healthcare workers.