Blood Thinner

Subject: Science and Technology

Context: The ICMR director said that both the vaccines available in India are safe for use for beneficiaries on blood thinners.

Concept:

These are medications taken orally or intravenously (through a vein) to prevent a blood clot (blood clot stop the flow of blood to the heart, lungs, or brain leading to heart attack or stroke).
Medication is sometimes done after international normalized ratio (INR) test i.e., rate at which blood clots.

Types of Blood thinners:

Antiplatelet drug: It thin the blood to keep blood cells (platelets) from sticking together in the veins and arteries. Ex- aspirin
Anticoagulant drugs: It prevent blood clots by increasing the amount of time it takes for blood clots to form. These are generlly recommended to one with heart disease.Ex- warfarin

Vitamin K can lessen the effectiveness of some anticoagulants, such as warfarin.
People who take anticoagulant medications are suggested to use herbal supplements and teas with caution.
Natural blood thinners: garlic, ginger, celery seed, aniseed.
Foods rich in vitamin E are also natural blood thinners. A number of oils contain vitamin E, such as olive, corn, soybean, and wheat germ are some of these.
Other sources of Vitamin E are: spinach, tomatoes, mangoes, kiwis, peanut butter, almonds, sunflower seeds, broccoli