Anticoaguláció

Anticoaguláció, commonly known as blood thinning, is a medical treatment that prevents or slows down the formation of blood clots. Blood clots are essential for stopping bleeding, but they can also form abnormally within blood vessels, obstructing blood flow and potentially leading to serious health issues like strokes, heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Anticoagulant medications work by interfering with the body's natural clotting process. They do not dissolve existing clots but rather prevent them from growing larger and stop new ones from forming. This is achieved by inhibiting the activity of specific proteins in the blood that are crucial for clot formation. There are several types of anticoagulant medications, including warfarin (a vitamin K antagonist) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, and edoxaban. Heparin is another common anticoagulant, often administered intravenously or subcutaneously. The decision to use anticoagulation therapy is based on an individual's risk factors for developing blood clots, such as certain medical conditions, inherited clotting disorders, prolonged immobility, or after certain surgeries. Regular monitoring, often through blood tests like the INR for warfarin, is sometimes necessary to ensure the medication is at an effective level and to minimize the risk of bleeding complications, which is the primary side effect of anticoagulation. Patients on anticoagulant therapy must be aware of potential interactions with other medications and foods and report any signs of unusual bleeding or bruising to their healthcare provider.