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Surely you have ever heard a person say that the doctor had sent him some injections of heparin in the belly.

You may even have had to prick yourself, or a close relative may have done it because you were unable to prick yourself.

It is also likely that you have ever heard of a drug called Sintrom, not in vain the WHO defined it as the second group of drugs that had the most improved mortality and morbidity in the population after antibiotics.

Well, all these drugs, whether in syringe or pill, have a very similar purpose: to prevent the formation of thrombi.

They are what are popularly known as anticoagulants, and if you or a family member is taking them you should know that there are a series of recommendations to follow when they are part of daily treatment.

What are anticoagulants?

They are a series of drugs that are used to prevent the formation of thrombi.

In short, its function is to make the blood flow more liquid through the blood vessels that run through our body.

In this way, we will prevent clots from forming, those that already exist increase in size and we will even help them to disappear.

Why are they taken?

This type of drug must always be prescribed by a specialist in the field.

They are usually prescribed to people who have a particularly high risk of developing clots, something that can happen in patients with a history of thrombosis, with some types of arrhythmias, if they are carriers of mechanical valves ... But also in people who run out undergoing some types of surgeries or being bedridden or immobilized due to having to rest or wear a cast.

Why is it necessary to prevent clots?

The blood clotting factor is vital, as it is what prevents us from bleeding when we suffer a cut or injury.

That is, when the walls of a blood vessel break and blood begins to escape.

But sometimes, due to a pathology or a specific process, the risk of the blood clotting within the blood vessels and forming thrombi is higher than usual.

If we do not remedy this situation, the chances of suffering, for example, a myocardial infarction, a cerebral infarction or a pulmonary embolism, will increase.

What types of blood thinners are there?

There are mainly three types:

-Injected anticoagulants.

Its form of application is subcutaneous or intravenous, the latter being for hospital use only.

The best known ones are already preloaded in syringes with a small needle incorporated, and their administration is subcutaneously in a fold of abdominal fat.

The dose is adjusted based on the weight of the patient.

-Classic oral anticoagulants (Sintrom and Aldocumar).

This type is where the well-known Sintrom (acenocoumarol), which is the most widely used anticoagulant in Spain, would be included.

They have the disadvantage that the patient must undergo periodic controls to adjust the dose of the drug and with it the intensity of anticoagulation (the INR).

If this value is higher or lower than desired, the patient's health is at significant risk.

-Direct acting oral anticoagulants (Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis and Lixiana).

They are also known as "new anticoagulants", since they appeared less than ten years ago.

Unlike the classics, it is not necessary to do checks every so often as its effect is predictable.

They have the great advantage that they do not interact with food and hardly any other drugs.

Why do some foods interact with classic oral anticoagulants?

The problem is in vitamin K. An excess or a deficiency of this vitamin in our diet will alter the anticoagulant efficacy of Sintrom and Aldocumar, so patients should avoid making drastic modifications in their usual diet.

Most of the vitamin K comes from foods of plant origin, especially dark yellow vegetables or green leafy vegetables: spinach, broccoli, cabbage, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, turnip greens ... These foods are not prohibited, but it is important that patients always eat the same amount avoiding sudden changes.

What about alcoholic beverages?

If possible, we will always avoid the intake of alcoholic beverages.

A high consumption of alcohol would increase the effect of anticoagulants, in addition to other negative effects it has on our health.

What are the risks of taking blood thinners?

The main risk is that of suffering a hemorrhage, so the anticoagulated patient should go to a health center without delay if a severe headache appears with a sudden onset, or if he suddenly suffers from vision disorders or speech difficulties.

As if you bleed profusely after suffering some kind of accident.

And always, whenever you go to a medical center or go to perform any surgery, dental extraction or diagnostic test, you must notify that you take an anticoagulant.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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