What is anticoagulation and what do anticoagulants do?
Anticoagulation is the treatment and prevention of blood clots. The medications used are called anticoagulants. The common anticoagulant medication prescribed is warfarin, also know as coumadin. The medication requires close monitoring and continuing patient education to avoid over anticoagulation, which can result in bleeding and under anticoagulation, which can cause harmful blood clots. Bloomington Hospital’s Anticoagulation Clinic assists physicians in monitoring patients on anticoagulants and provides continuing education. How do I know if I need anticoagulation therapy? Anticoagulation may be prescribed by your physician if you are at risk of blood clots or have an existing blood clot. The reason for therapy is to prevent b blood clots from traveling to the lungs or the brain. Some common indications for anticoagulants are: • Blood clots in the legs; medical term “deep vein thrombosis” • Blood clots in the lungs; medical term “pulmonary embolus” • Irregular heart beat; medical te
