The blood circulation becomes less effective when the heart fails to pump blood (a condition called heart failure) or in case of any abnormality in the heart rhythm (called arrhythmia).
Besides, accumulation of fatty deposits in the blood vessels (a condition called atherosclerosis) may result in the narrowing and blockage of these vessels.
As a result of these conditions, there may be diminished blood supply to the brain, the terminal extreme parts of the body (also referred to as peripheral vascular disease); or to the muscles of the heart (coronary heart disease) resulting in angina pectoris.
The last two disorders - peripheral vascular disease and coronary heart disease may become further complicated owing to development of blood clots that possibly will obstruct the blood vessels.
When this happens in the arteries, the vessels that carry blood to the heart, it is called coronary thrombosis, and it is the most common cause for stroke when it occurs inside the brain.
In addition to the above mentioned problems, hypertension or exceptionally high blood pressure is a very common disorder of the circulatory system. In the instance of hypertension, the pressure of the blood circulating through the vessels is very high on the walls of these vessels.
Although the precise reason for the augmented blood pressure on the vessel walls is yet to be comprehended fully, scientists believe that the loss of suppleness of the walls of the blood vessels (a condition called arteriosclerosis) is one reason for this.
Temporary changes in the size of the blood vessels may also result in the development of additional health conditions - comprising migraine as well as Raynaud's disease.
The term digitalis is used to denote several substances that occur naturally and are present in the leaves of plants belonging to the foxglove family (also referred to as cardiac glycosides) and employed to treat particular problems related to the heart.
The major medications belonging to this group include digitoxin and digoxin.
Between these two medicines, digoxin is used more extensively, as it is a short-acting medicament (the effect remains for a brief period) and also because adjusting the dosage of this medication is easier.
Electrical impulses or stimuli that are produced in the nerve tissues inside the heart cause the heart to beat normally. These impulses are responsible for the contraction of the heart muscles as well as pumping blood.
Digitalis works to decrease the transmission of these electrical impulses within the heart, thereby making the heart to beat further leisurely.
The force used in contracting the muscles of the heart is dependent on the chemical modifications inside these muscles.
Digitalis works to encourage such chemical changes and every time the electrical impulses stimulate the heart, the cardiac glycosides augment the power with which the heart muscles contract.
This balances the power lost in stimulating some muscles that have been impaired because of a heart attack.
When the heart beats robustly, it results in augmented blood circulation to the kidneys, which, in turn, boosts production of urine and, at the same time, assists in getting rid of the surplus fluid that usually builds up in the body following a heart failure.
Digitalis is very effective in providing relief from the symptoms associated with heart failure, for instance, breathing difficulty, exhaustion and swelling in the legs.
It also enhances one's capability to undertake exercise and also increases the rate of recurrence of passing urine normally.
The downside of medications belonging to the class called digitalis medications is that they may also turn out to be toxic and provided the blood levels of the person using them is very high, they may cause symptoms of a condition known as digitalis poisoning.
The symptoms of this condition may include extreme fatigue, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and even confusion. You need to contact your physician right away and notify him/ her about these symptoms as soon as they appear.
In the normal course, the kidneys are responsible for eliminating digoxin from the body. However, in case the functioning of the kidneys is damaged, this medication may accumulate inside the body and result in toxic side effects.
The liver breaks down digitoxin and is preferred to digoxin because this normally does not accumulate in the body. However, digitoxin can also build up inside the body following repeated dosages, particularly when the functioning of the liver is impaired or less efficient.
Both the digitalis medications - digitoxin and digoxin - become additionally toxic when the level of potassium in the bloodstream is low. Normally, use of diuretic medicines is responsible for a deficiency of potassium.
Therefore, it is essential for people taking diuretics along with digitalis medicines to monitor the actions of these medications as well as the potassium level in their bloodstream carefully.
In case any such person suffers from extreme potassium deficiency, he/ she may require taking supplements containing this essential mineral.
The hormone epinephrine produced by the adrenal glands and substances similar to it partially work by means of the beta receptors present in our body.
Beta blockers (often referred to as beta adrenergic blocking agents) check the exploits of all substances similar to epinephrine on these beta receptors.
Beta blockers are principally used to treat heart disorders, but sometimes also used to treat additional health conditions.
As the beta blockers oppress the actions of the beta receptors, they annul the actions of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine.
Hence, the beta blockers also lessen the power as well as the pace of the heart rhythm, put off the blood vessels around the brain as well as those carrying blood to the extremities from dilating, and also check the widening of the air passages to the lungs.
When used to treat angina pectoris (heart pain), beta blockers work to lessen the rate as well as the seriousness of the attacks.
They are also used along with other medications to treat hypertension, because beta blockers help in lowering blood pressure and, hence, lessen the occurrence of symptoms related to high blood pressure.
In addition, beta blockers are also useful in putting off serious bouts of arrhythmia that may be caused by abnormal or very fast heart rhythm.
Since beta blockers have an effect on several body parts, they generally result in trivial side effects.
Beta blockers less the rate of heartbeat as well as the passage of air to the lungs and, hence, they are likely to decrease one ability to undertake exhausting exercises.
However, this change may not be apparent in people whose aptitude for physical activities may have been restricted from before owing to problems related to the heart.
Many people using beta blockers may experience coldness of their hands as well as feet, as the blood circulation to the limbs is greatly reduced by these medications.
It is important to note that decreased blood supply may result in short-term impotency while one is undergoing treatment with beta blockers.
However, use of beta blockers also involves certain risks, the most important of them being breathing difficulties, because these medications also act to block the beta receptors present in the lungs.
It is believed that using cardio-selective beta blockers that mainly affects the heart result in fewer such side effects compared to the non-cardiac-selective beta blockers.
Nevertheless, while prescribing any beta blocker physicians take additional care in the case of people who are suffering from bronchitis, asthma or any additional type of disease related to the respiratory system.
Normally, physicians do not prescribe beta blockers for individuals having a poor blood circulation to their limbs, as these medications further decrease the blood flow to these body parts and may possibly also make other conditions endured by such people worse.
Generally, beta blockers are also not recommended for people who have had a heart failure, as these medications may lessen the force with which the heart beats further.
If you are having diabetes and require taking beta blockers, you ought to know that you may observe some changes in the indications of low levels of blood sugar; especially these medications may stifle the symptoms like quivering and palpitations.
Provided you have been using beta blockers for a prolonged period of time or even otherwise, you should not discontinue these medications abruptly, as this may aggravate an unexpected and acute reappearance of the symptoms associated with the initial disorder, or a heart attack too.
In addition, if you stop taking the beta blockers all of a sudden, it may also result in a marked rise in your blood pressure.
When you require stopping treatment with beta blockers, you should reduce the dosage of the medications gradually under the direct supervision of your healthcare provider.
Vasodilators are medicines that work to dilate or widen the blood vessels and they are usually recommended to treat disorders wherein the constriction of blood vessels result in diminished blood circulation, as a result of which lesser amount of oxygen is supplied to different body parts.
Such medical conditions include angina pectoris, wherein the coronary arteries constrict so much that it leads to very poor supply of blood to the heart resulting in an excruciating spasm.
Other such conditions comprise peripheral vascular disease, when contraction of the blood vessels leading to the limbs does not provide sufficient amounts of blood as well as oxygen to the terminal body parts (also known as extremities).
In addition, vasodilators are extensively employed in treating hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure.
There are many different classes of vasodilator medications and they include ACE inhibitors (also called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors); calcium channel blockers; sympatholytics and nitrates.
Vasodilators act to expand the blood vessels by means of unwinding or loosening the muscles surrounding them.
These medications accomplish this by having a direct influence on the activities of the muscles (calcium channel blockers and nitrates work in this manner) or by obstructing the transmission of nerve signals that regulate the blood vessels constrictions (sympatholytics work in this manner).
On the other hand, vasodilators belonging to the class of drugs called the ACE inhibitors work by obstructing the actions of enzymes in the blood.
Besides providing relief from the symptoms of the problems for which they are generally used, vasodilators may also produce some insignificant unpleasant side effects that are associated with their exploits on the circulation of blood.
Side effects like headaches and flushing are widespread during the initial stage of treatment with these medications. In addition, people taking vasodilators may also experience light-headedness and even fainting owing to reduced blood pressure.
You should also know that when the blood vessels are dilated, it may also result in the accumulation of fluids in the body, causing swellings, especially in the ankles.
One downside of using vasodilators is that they may result in a very sharp decline in blood pressure. This is the main reason why physicians take great care while prescribing vasodilators for people whose blood pressure is unstable.
Hence, it is recommended that when you take these medications for the very first time, you should take it in such a place and such a time when you can sit down or lie after taking the dosage.
Diuretic medicines are also known as 'water pills' and they help in converting surplus salt and water present in the body into urine. Two health problems are eased with the generation of additional amounts of urine.
Use of diuretics prevent the tissues from retaining more water and becoming swollen (a condition called edema), while it also helps to improve the action of the heart, as a lesser volume of blood is in circulation.
Diuretics belong to different classes and every one of them is employed differently, and each one has dissimilar actions as well as effects.
However, one thing is common among all classes of diuretics - they all work on our kidneys, the vital organ that regulates the amount of water retained by the body.
During the usual filtration process, the kidneys remove water, salts (mostly sodium and potassium) plus waste materials from the bloodstream.
While the major amount of the water and salts taken from the bloodstream are returned to it, some amounts of it is excreted from the body in the form of urine, which also contains waste substances produced by the body.
Diuretic medications work to slow down the normal action of the kidneys by means of lessening the quantities of water and sodium amounts that are returned to the bloodstream, thereby, augmenting the production of urine.
Thus, the actions of diuretics help to lessen the amount of water in the bloodstream and also to remove the surplus water retained by the tissues and getting rid of them in the form of urine.
Diuretic medications belonging to all classes enhance the rate as well as the speed of passing urine. The action of the diuretics is most obvious when one begins therapy with these medications.
People who have struggled with edema may possibly observe that swelling, especially in the ankles, is lessened, while people who have suffered a heart failure may possibly notice that their breathing difficulties have been eased following the use of diuretic medications.
All said and done, use of diuretics may result in a disproportion of chemical substances present in the blood. Most frequently people using these medications experience a decline in the level of potassium in their bloodstream - a condition called hypokalemia.
This disorder caused by diuretics may lead to debility, especially in aged people. Deficiency or poor levels of potassium may also cause irregular heartbeats, particularly in people who are using digitalis medications.
Normally, such an imbalance in the potassium level may be treated by using dietary supplements containing high amounts of potassium or by using a medication called potassium-sparing diuretic.
In addition, consuming food that have high amounts of potassium, such as lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, may prove to be effective in correcting the potassium imbalance.
A number of diuretic medications may possibly raise the uric acid levels in the bloodstream and, hence, people who are vulnerable may develop gout.
Diuretics may also increase the levels of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream, which, in turn, may result in added difficulties for people with diabetes.
The human heart comprises four chambers - two upper (atria) as well as two lower (ventricles). Generally, electrical impulses coordinate the pumping activities of these four chambers of the heart to ensure that the heartbeat is normal.
When this synchronization collapses, the heart may start beating in an abnormal pace - irregularly or may be more rapidly or slowly compared to its normal rhythm.
Arrhythmia is a common term that denotes abnormal heartbeats. Arrhythmia may be of different types subject to the affected area of the heart.
Any problem affecting the mechanism of the heart for regulating its rhythm may disrupt the heartbeat.
A number of additional conditions may also disrupt the heart rhythm and they include use of particular medications, such as anti-cholinergic drugs; consuming beverages containing high amounts of caffeine; and a hyperactive thyroid gland.
The heart rhythm is regulated by using a wide variety of medications, counting those belonging to the class of medicaments called beta blockers, digitalis medications as well as calcium channel blockers.
In addition, medications like disopyramide, procainamide, lidocaine and quinidine are also used to control the heartbeat.
The electrical impulses controlled by the sympathetic (autonomic) nervous system manage the pumping action of the heart.
The electrical impulses or signals travel via the muscles of the heart and result in the contraction of both sets of the heart's chambers - the atria along with the ventricles.
All the anti-arrhythmic medicines work to modify the transmission of the electrical impulses within the heart. However, every medication or a group of medications have a different mechanism that has an effect on the series of occurrences.
While some medications, especially those belonging to the class of drugs called beta blockers, obstruct the conduction of the electrical impulses to the heart; some others, those known as digitalis medications, have an effect on the manner in which the signals are transmitted inside the heart; and there are others that have an effect on the heart muscles' response to the electrical impulses they have received (for instance, calcium channel blockers, procainamide, disopyramide and quinidine).
Normally, anti-arrhythmic medications check the symptoms of arrhythmia and may possibly bring back the normal rhythm of the heart.
While these medications are not able to check the occurrence of all types of arrhythmia, usually they lessen the rate as well as the seriousness of the symptoms related to this condition.
It is unfortunate that while these medications restrain arrhythmias, several anti-arrhythmic drugs also have a tendency to slow down the normal functioning of the heart.
In addition, they may also result in side effects like light-headedness when an individual is standing (a condition called postural hypotension) or panting/ breathing difficulties when they exert themselves.
Some patients have also reported experiencing minor nausea and problems with their eye sight while using these medications.
For instance, when used in high doses verapamil may result in constipation, while disopyramide is likely to obstruct the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system, causing some anti-cholinergic consequences.
In addition, in specific situations, the anti-arrhythmic medications are also likely to interrupt the rhythm of the heart and, hence, these medicines are only used when it is found that their benefits are more compared to the risks involved.
When used in excessive doses, quinidine may prove to be toxic, leading to a syndrome known as cinchonism. This syndrome may cause dizziness, impaired hearing, eye sight problems and even result in loss of vision.
Since a number of people are especially susceptible to this medication, normally a test dose is given prior to starting the regular treatment.
Basically, angina is a heart/ chest pain that occurs when there is an insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscles.
Normally, this condition takes place owing to blood vessel constriction, especially the coronary arteries, which transport blood as well as oxygen to the muscles of the heart.
The most widespread form of this disease is called the classic angina, wherein the pain is experienced usually when one exerts him/ her, or endures emotional stress.
In another type of angina called variant angina, the victims experience pain while they are resting. In the instance of classical angina, the coronary arteries are narrowed owing to fatty deposits (known as atheroma) on the arterial walls.
On the other hand, in the case of variant angina, the constriction of the coronary arteries occurs owing to the spasm of the fibers in the muscles that comprise the walls of the arteries.
People who smoke tobacco or those who consume foods rich in fat content experience an increase in the atheroma or fatty deposits inside the arteries.
For this reason, physicians treating angina patients advise them to quit smoking as well as modify their diet, which forms a part of the complete treatment for this disorder.
Even people who are obese and enduring angina are advised to lose the extra pounds with a view to reduce the burden on the heart.
To a great extent, such lifestyle modifications help in improving the symptoms related to angina, often it is also necessary to undergo treatment using medications to get relief from the pain caused by angina.
Treatment of angina is primarily done by using three types of medications - nitrates, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers.
The nitrates and the calcium channel blockers work to expand the blood vessels by means of loosening up the muscle stratum in the walls of the blood vessel, thereby lessening the pressure/ burden on the heart and make it easier for the heart to disseminate blood.
The beta blockers, on the other hand, obstruct the conduction of the signals or electrical impulses within the heart, thereby, decreasing the heart muscles' stimulation during stress or exercise.
The action of beta blockers also lessens the heart muscles' oxygen requirement and reduces the frequency of angina attacks.
In order to control angina effectively, it may usually be necessary to treat the condition using either one medication independently or a number of medications in conjunction.
Anti-angina medicines that check attacks enable the patients to engage in further exhausting activities devoid of inciting pain. In case of occurrence of an angina attack, the nitrates are effective in providing relief.
Although the anti-angina medicines usually do not produce any serious side effects, they may result in a range of insignificant symptoms.
As calcium channel blockers and nitrates dilate the blood vessels all over the body, they may result in light-headedness and, occasionally fainting (particularly, when one is standing).
In many cases, people using these medications may experience headaches when they begin treatment.
Some of the other probable side effects include swelling in the ankles and reddening of the skin, particularly the facial skin. In addition, those using these medications may become tolerant to nitrates.
Therefore, people who are constantly using nitrates to treat angina should ensure that they do not take any nitrates for about 10 hours to 12 hours every day.
Use of beta blockers may frequently result in coldness of the hands as well as feet. In addition, they may cause fatigue and also a heavy sensation in the legs.
Blood pressure is actually the evaluation of the power with which blood circulates through the arteries. Two separate evaluations are done while measuring blood pressure: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.
While the systolic pressure specifies the force with which the ventricles of the heart contract, the diastolic pressure is the force with which blood gushes out when the ventricles are relaxed.
The reading of the diastolic pressure is higher compared to the systolic pressure. It may be noted that blood pressure varies in different people and usually it rises as one ages.
When the blood pressure in an individual is above normal, no less than on three different instances, physicians may diagnose the condition as hypertension.
The blood pressure of a person may go up owing to any basic health problem that the physician will endeavor to make out. However, normally it is quite impossible to detect a reason for the raised blood pressure. When this occurs, the condition is definitely hypertension.
While people with hypertension usually do not have any symptoms, an exceptional rise in the blood pressure may cause headaches, heart palpitations and a common feeling of being unwell.
Lowering raised blood pressure is essential, as it may result in grave effects, counting damaged kidneys, heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
Specific group of people has more chances of developing hypertension. Such people may include smokers, people with diabetes, people whose blood encloses high fat concentration and people who have a damaged heart from before.
It is interesting to note that compared to those having a fair complexion those with black complexion are more likely to suffer from hypertension.
It is possible to reduce high blood pressure by means of weight loss, taking foods that contain lessand by undertaking work-outs on a regular basis. However, people having very severe hypertension may need to take one or additional anti-hypertensive medicines.
Medications belonging to many dissimilar types possess anti-hypertensive attributes, counting calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, centrally acting anti-hy salt pertensive medications, sympatholytics, and ACE inhibitors (also called angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors).
It may be noted that blood pressure is not only subject to the power with which blood is pumped by the heart, but also depends on the width of the blood vessels as well as the volume of blood that is being circulated.
Therefore, it is very normal that the blood pressure will raise when the blood vessels are constricted or when a high volume of blood is in circulation.
Anti-hypertensive medications work to lower the blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to dilate (expand) or, alternately, by lessening the volume of blood in circulation.
Different anti-hypertensive medicaments act in dissimilar ways and some of them have several actions.
As majority of the people with hypertension and very few, if at all they have any symptoms, the side effects of using anti-hypertensive drugs are likely to be more discernable compared to any instantaneous beneficial consequences of using these medications.
However, use of a number of anti-hypertensive medicaments may result in light-headedness and fainting during the initial stage of the therapy, as they occasionally cause the blood pressure to fall drastically.
Hence, it is possible that the physician may take some time before he/ she is able to determine the right dosage of the medication that will not cause such unpleasant side effects.
Even if you feel that your condition is well under control, you should continue taking the anti-hypertensive medication strictly as you have been directed, because from time to time your physician would require knowing the precise manner in which a specific medication is effecting your high blood pressure, including the benefits of taking the drug as well as the side effects caused by it.
People taking anti-hypertensive medications continuously for a prolonged period are not advised to discontinue them abruptly, because if you stop taking them suddenly it may result in the recurrence of hypertension in a precarious manner.
Therefore, if you need to discontinue taking anti-hypertensive drugs you should first talk to your physician and reduce the dosage of the medication(s) slowly over a period of time under the control of your physician or healthcare provider.
Blood encloses various different kinds of fats, which are also called lipids.
A number of these fats are helpful, while many others, especially the saturated fats like cholesterol present in dairy products and meat, may prove to be detrimental for our health if their amount is high in the bloodstream.
People who have high deposit of such fatty substances (known as atheroma) inside the arteries face the risk of developing a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atheroma or fatty deposits in the arteries not only restrict, but also disturb normal blood circulation.
Most probably this may result in development of atypical blood clots causing health problems that may turn out to be fatal, for instance heart attack or stroke.
In fact, majority of the people are able to avoid the risk of developing atherosclerosis simply by taking foods that contain less fat.
But in the case of other people, usually people who have inherited a propensity to have elevated fat levels in the bloodstream (also known as hyperlipidemia), it is important to undergo therapy with medications that lower the lipid levels in blood.
Most of us are aware that bile salts enclose high levels of cholesterol and they are usually secreted into the alimentary canal to assist in digestion and are once again put in blood circulation.
As a number of the lipid-lowering medicines, especially colestipol, cholestyramine and neomycin, block the absorption of these bile salts containing cholesterol by the bloodstream again, they help to augment cholesterol elimination from our body, thereby reducing the blood level of saturated fats.
A number of other lipid-lowering medicines, for instance, clofibrate, niacin, gemfibrozil, and probucol, work in the liver to thwart the process of converting the fatty acids into lipids.
On the other hand, medications called statins impede the actions of an enzyme that makes cholesterol inside the liver, thereby lowering the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
However, medications that help to lower the lipid levels are not effective in curing the basic reason responsible for increased levels of saturated fats in our bloodstream.
Hence, generally people having high levels of blood cholesterol need to continue treatment with these medications for an infinite period.
It has been found that discontinuing lipid-lowering medications almost invariably results in the recurrence of elevated levels of lipids in the blood.
As atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia (presence of high levels of saturated fats in the bloodstream) do not cause any visible symptoms, it is unlikely that people having these conditions will observe any immediate benefits of using these medicines.
Since many lipid-lowering medications enhance the bile quantity in the alimentary canal, their use may often result in queasiness as well as constipation (for instance, cholestyramine and colestipol) or even diarrhea (for instance, niacin, probucol and clofibrate).
Since the lipid-lowering drugs neomycin, colestipol and cholestyramine are not taken up into circulation from the alimentary canal they may cause some unpleasant side effects.
However, these medications may possibly restrict the incorporation of particular vitamins that dissolve in fats; it is advisable that people using them should take dietary supplements to compensate for such vitamins.
In addition, these medications may get into the way of assimilation of other different medications.
Other medicaments that lower the level of lipids in the bloodstream and work in the liver, especially clofibrate, possess the aptitude to enhance one's vulnerability to have gallstones.
In addition, at times, these medications may also disturb the balance of various kinds of lipids present in our bloodstream.
Therefore, it is advisable that people taking these drugs should have their blood samples monitored on a regular basis. People whose liver functioning is impaired should use these medications with additional caution.
It is important to note that lipid-lowering medicaments that obstruct the formation of cholesterol, for instance, all statin medicines, ought to be given along with the evening meal in order to get the utmost benefits of using them.
Whenever there is any hemorrhage from any wound or site of surgery, normally, our body reacts very fast to stop the blood loss by closing up the ruptures caused in the blood vessels.
This happens in two phases - firstly, when the cells known as platelets gather in the form of wadding at the place where the wall of the blood vessel has ruptures; and, secondly, when these cells or platelets make and release chemical substances that trigger the factors related to clotting in the blood to develop a protein known as fibrin.
It is important to note that vitamin K plays a vital function in the process involved in forming blood clots. In addition, an enzyme present in the blood and known as plasmin makes sure that the clots disintegrate once the injury has been healed.
However, a few health problems get into the way of this process of forming blood clots. They may totally thwart the formation of blood clots or result in uncontrollable formation of blood clots. In such case, there are two risks.
First, preventing the formation of blood clots will cause loss of too much blood; while improper formation of blood clots may even result in blocking the blood from circulating to a very important organ.
The formation of the protein fibrin is subject to the presence of many proteins that are factors in blood clotting. If the factor VIII is totally absent or its level is very low, people suffer from an inherited ailment known as hemophilia.
It may be noted that the symptoms related to hemophilia more or less always occur exclusively in males.
On the other hand, any deficit of factor IX results in a different bleeding problem known as the Christmas disease, which got its name from the individual who suffered from it first.
Absence of these two blood clotting factors may result in unrestrained hemorrhage or too much bruising after sustaining an injury.
Generally, hemophilia does not need to be treated using medicines on a regular basis.
However, in the event of severe hemorrhages or bruising, a physician may inject a concentrated variety of the lacking or deficient blood clotting factors, which are taken out from the usual blood with a view to support the formation of blood clot and also stem bleeding.
In some cases, it may be necessary to repeat administering injections for a number of days after sustaining the injury.
Occasionally, promoting blood clot formation is useful even in people who do not suffer from hemophilia, especially when stemming bleeding is very difficult - for instance, following a surgery.
In instances like this, sometimes blood clots are stabilized by decreasing the actions of the enzyme called plasmin using an anti-fibrinolytic medication (also called hemostatic medications), for instance, aminocaproic acid.
Sometimes, this medication is also prescribed for people suffering from hemophilia before they undergo any small surgery, for instance, extracting tooth. In addition, some people may have a propensity to bleed, which is a result of vitamin K deficiency.
Generally, formation of blood clots occurs only following an injury. However, a number of people have a propensity to have clots in the blood vessels without any obvious reason.
The existence of deposits full of fat within the blood vessels (a condition called atheroma) enhances the possibilities of this kind of anomalous formation of blood clots (also known as thrombus).
Besides, this abnormality, a part of the blood clot (called embolus) developed in reaction to an injury or a surgery may get detached and circulate inside the bloodstream. Risks of this happening increases following prolonged periods of inactivity or very little activity.
Following the formation of the anomalous blood clot, there are chances that it possibly will get fixed in a place inside the blood vessel, thereby obstructing the supply of blood to a very important organ like the heart or the brain.
In order to put off the formation of such abnormal blood clots and even disperse them physicians normally prescribe three major varieties of medications - anti-coagulant medications, anti-platelet medications and thrombolytic medications.
People, who have a propensity to form abnormal blood clots inside the arteries and the heart, where blood flows very fast, use anti-coagulant medications on a regular basis.
These medications are also prescribed to put off the formation of blood clots following a heart surgery. Anti-coagulant medications lessen the platelets' inclination to remain unified when the flow of blood is interrupted.
ASA is the most extensively prescribed anti-platelet medication. When given in extremely small doses that are inadequate to lessen pain, the action of this drug is anti-platelet.
This medication may cause unpleasant side effects when given in elevated doses to relieve pain, but they do not occur when ASA is used in such low doses. Sulfinpyrazone and dipyridamole are two other anti-platelet medications that are also used commonly.
Anticoagulant medications are prescribed for people who face the risk of forming abnormal blot clots. These medications assist in sustaining the usual blood circulation in such people and they are helpful in avoiding blood clot formation inside the veins.
Alternately, anticoagulant medications also help to make an already formed blood clot stable to prevent its disintegration and form a blockage (embolism) stopping blood circulation.
It may be noted that all medications called anticoagulants work to decrease the actions of specific factors related to blood clotting. However, the actual mechanism of each medication is different.
Anticoagulants are not helpful in dissolving blood clots that have already formed. Medications called thrombolytics are used to treat this problem.
Anticoagulant medications may be divided into two categories. The first group includes medications like enoxaparin and heparin which are administered in the form of injections and their action starts immediately.
The second group of anticoagulants includes medications like warfarin, which are taken orally and their action starts after some days of taking the medication.
Heparin is an anticoagulant drug available in injection form and is primarily given to hospitalized patients either during or following a surgery.
In addition, this injection is also administered while a patient is undergoing kidney dialysis with a view to check formation of blood clots inside the equipment used for dialysis.
It is important to note that heparin is never taken orally, but always administered subcutaneously or intravenously. The other anticoagulant injection enoxaparin is only administered subcutaneously.
Occasionally, heparin is also given to people before they begin regular therapy with any anticoagulant medication that is used orally.
Oral anticoagulants are primarily employed to thwart blood clot formation inside the veins and it has been found that these medications are unlikely to put off the blood clot formation in the arteries.
These medications are usually given to people following a surgery (especially, following replacement of heart valve) or after they sustain any injury, when they are at elevated risks of enduring embolism (a blockage that disrupts blood circulation).
In addition, oral anticoagulant medications are also employed in the form of a preventive treatment for people who face the risk of having strokes.
Use of oral anticoagulants also poses a serious risk - when taken in excessive doses, they are likely to cause bleeding from the gums, nose or even in the urinary tract. An over dose of these medications may also result in bleeding form a minor bruise.
This is the main reason why the dose of oral anticoagulants ought to be measured cautiously and people taking them should have their blood examined on a regular basis to make certain that they can adjust the blood clotting system appropriately.
Warfarin is the most extensively used oral anticoagulant medicament.
It is worth mentioning here that the oral anticoagulants may possibly interact with certain other medicines as well as foods that contain high amounts of vitamin K, for instance, green, leafy vegetables.
Therefore, if you are using any other medicines, it may be necessary to change the anticoagulant dosage.
If your physician has prescribed an anticoagulant medication for you, it is advisable that you stay away from particular foods and always carry a list of medicines that should not be given to you, as they may possibly have an effect on the results of the anticoagulant you are using.
It is important to note that unless your physician instructs you otherwise, ASA is one medication that should never be taken in conjunction with any anticoagulant.
Thrombolytics are also called fibrinolytics and they are employed to dissolve the existing blood clots.
Normally, thrombolytics are given to people in a hospital in the form of an intravenous injection in order to unclog the blood vessels that have been obstructed by blood clots - for instance, in the case of coronary thrombosis.
In addition to being administered intravenously, these medications can also be directly given into any blood vessel that is blocked.
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and streptokinase are the two principle thrombolytic medications and they both work by augmenting the levels of plasmin - an enzyme that occurs naturally in the blood and which usually disintegrates fibrin, in the bloodstream.
The major risk associated with using these medications is augmented vulnerability to bruising and bleeding. In addition, use of streptokinase may result in allergies that may appear to be like urticaria (hives), breathing problems as well as swelling.
Vitamin K is necessary to produce a number of factors related to formation of blood clots. Normally, vitamin K is taken up from the fats in the intestines.
However, in the case of a number of ailments related to the small intestine or the pancreas the absorption is not adequate resulting in low levels of vitamin K in the bloodstream and this causes formation of impaired blood clots.
At times, a similar problem develops in newborn infants owing to the dearth of vitamin K. In such cases, the babies are administered an injection form of vitamin K, known as phytonadione, to bring the levels of this vitamin to normal.
