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The Heart & Vascular Center
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Coumadin is an oral anticoagulant
(commonly referred to as a blood thinner). Coumadin is prescribed
to patients with certain medical conditions including: atrial fibrillation,
myocardial infarction (heart attack), coronary artery disease, pulmonary
embolus, heart valve replacement, and deep vein thrombosis.
Although coagulation (or clot formation) is the body's defense against excessive blood loss - patients with atrial fibrillation and heart valve replacement may be at increased risk for clot formation. These clots can then interfere with circulation to the heart, brain, or extremities causing problems such as venous thrombosis, heart attack, or stroke. Coumadin increases the time it takes for clots to form and possibly prevents their formation. However, administration and dosage of Coumadin is highly specific, varying not only from one patient to another, but even varying from week-to-week (or even day-to-day) for any one patient. The amount of Coumadin an individual should
take depends on many factors (medical condition, medications, diet, and
lifestyle) and is determined by a blood test called a Protime (Prothrombin
Time or PT/INR). This test evaluates the amount of time it takes
for the blood to form clots. By careful monitoring of a patient's
Protime, the health care professional is best able to determine the safest
and most effective dose of Coumadin.
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