How do blood clots form?
A blood clot starts when cells in the blood called platelets clump together where plaque forms in a blood vessel. Plaque forms when cholesterol and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This process is called atherosclerosis (ath”er-o-skleh-RO’sis). How do antiplatelet agents work? Antiplatelet agents work by preventing the platelets in the blood from clumping. Examples of antiplatelets include aspirin, clopidogrel (klo-PID’o-grel), ticlopidine (ti”KLO’pih-deen), and dipyridamole (di-pi-RID’ah-mól). Antiplatelet agents, including aspirin, can have serious and potentially fatal side effects if not taken properly. It’s important to discuss these medicines with your doctor to decide whether they are the right treatment for your specific condition. If you are taking any of these medications, it’s important that you don’t stop taking them without consulting your doctor.
