What Is the Meaning of Anticoagulant?

Anticoagulant, also known as blood thinners, may be a natural or a synthetic agent that suppresses, delays or prevent clots (masses of blood cells) from forming in your bloodstream. Some of the natural sources of anticoagulants include ginger and garlic, which naturally boost your body's blood anticoagulation mechanism. Anticoagulants intend to prevent health problems, however, too much intake of anticoagulant-rich foods may also cause abnormal blood clotting. Thus, it is best to consult your physician before taking drugs and supplements that affect the anticoagulant levels in your body.

Definition

• Anticoagulant, according to the American Heart Association, "is a drug that helps prevent the clotting (coagulation) of blood." Blood clots form in sites of injuries; however, blood clots formed inside your body may cause debilitating effects to your body organs.

  Heparin and warfarin are the two standard anticoagulants used in the medical industry. Anticoagulants are prescribed to patients with heart, lung or blood vessel disorders.

Classifications

• Anticoagulants fall into three groups or classifications: inhibitors of clotting factor synthesis (warfarin), inhibitors of thrombin (heparin and lepirudin) and antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, tirofiban and eptifibatide).

  Inhibitors of clotting factor synthesis are anticoagulants that prevent the production of certain clotting factors in our liver. Inhibitors of thrombin are drugs that interfere with blood clotting by blocking the activity of thrombin. Antiplatelet drugs interact with platelets, a type of blood cell for developing clots, to block platelets from amassing into harmful clots.

Natural Sources

• Natural sources of anticoagulants, according to Cyndi Spencer R.N., of the Factor Five Leiden Support Organization, include "ginger, onion, garlic, Ginkgo Biloba, ginseng and purple grapes." Of all these natural sources, the purple grape is the most potent---strongest blood thinning effect.

Medical Usage

• Anticoagulant is used for treating thrombus and embolus. Thrombus is a clot that forms in the heart and blood vessels, and remains there. On the other hand, embolus is a blood clot that travels and lodges in the blood vessels---blocking the normal blood circulation pathway. Emboli (plural for embolus) are potentially more dangerous but are less common than thrombus.

  Furthermore, anticoagulants are widely used as prescription drugs for coronary artery disease, certain types of heart attacks, atrial fibrillation (rapid, irregular heart rhythm), valvular heart disease--dysfunction of one or more of the heart's four valves, cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease--as well as patients who have undergone balloon angioplasty.

Precautions

• Anticoagulants can react adversely with dozens of other drugs, including over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen, and could lead to uncontrolled bleeding.

  Also, keep in mind that although anticoagulants can control many conditions, they do not cure them. Take anticoagulant medication exactly as directed and keep all scheduled follow-up appointments with your physician.