Content

• Steps
• Warning

If you have a blood clot, have a stroke, an irregular heartbeat, or have a heart attack, you may need to take blood thinners prescribed by your doctor. Thinning the blood can help prevent recurrence of these diseases. In addition to medications, lifestyle changes combined with the help of your doctor can help thin your blood and live healthier lives.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use prescription drugs

1. 

   Take a pill containing coumarin. If you have a medical condition that requires blood-thinning medications, your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant that targets blood clotting factors. Your doctor may prescribe coumarin-containing medications such as Coumadin or Warfarin. These medications help reduce the formation of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors in the blood. It is usually taken once a day, at the same time each day, with or without food.
   • Common side effects include gas, abdominal pain, and sometimes hair loss.

2. 

   
   
   Know the side effects of Warfarin. If you are taking Warfarin, you need to be carefully monitored because Warfarin can cause internal bleeding. You will need weekly blood tests and the dose will be adjusted based on the test results.
   • Warfarin can interact with many other drugs, so talk with your doctor about your medications, supplements, and vitamins. In addition, it is important to maintain a balanced diet while taking Warfarin because elevated levels of vitamin K can interfere with the drug and cause blood clots.
   • When taking Warfarin, you should avoid consuming foods rich in vitamin K such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, spinach, green beans, liver, and some cheeses. Talk with your healthcare professional about your diet when taking Warfarin.

3. 

   
   
   Try other blood thinners. Your doctor may prescribe other anticoagulants for you. The advantage of these drugs is that you do not need weekly monitoring and vitamin K supplementation does not affect the effectiveness of the medication. However, some experts do not like prescribing these drugs because they are difficult to follow and if bleeding occurs, it will be difficult for a doctor to reverse vitamin K (unlike when taking Warfarin).
   • Your doctor may prescribe Pradaxa, usually taken by mouth, with or without food, twice daily. Common Pradaxa's side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea. Other serious side effects include bleeding and allergic reactions.
   • Your doctor may prescribe Xarelto. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may instruct you to take Xarelto 1-2 times per day with food. Side effects of Xarelto include an allergic reaction to the drug, bleeding or vomiting blood, dizziness, burning, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, confusion, and headache.
   • Your doctor may prescribe Eliquis twice daily, with or without food. Use caution when taking the drug if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, bleeding, dizziness, confusion, headache, muscle pain or swelling, chest pain and wheezing.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Use other methods

1. 

   
   
   Baby Aspirin (Baby Aspirin) oral dose. If you have ever had a heart attack or stroke, or have certain risk factors, your doctor may recommend a dose of 81 mg aspirin a day. Aspirin helps thin the blood by preventing blood cells from sticking together, thereby reducing the risk of blood clots. However, be aware that aspirin can pose a risk of bleeding such as hemorrhagic stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding.
   • Tell your doctor if you have a stomach ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, or are allergic to aspirin. If you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regularly, such as ibuprofen, your risk of bleeding when taking aspirin is higher. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor before starting aspirin treatment.
   • Aspirin may interact with other medications such as heparin, ibuprofen, Plavix, corticosteroids and antidepressants, as well as herbal supplements such as ginkgo biloba, kava root (in the pepper family), and cat's claw.
   • Tell your doctor about all the vitamins, supplements, and medicines you are taking.

2. 

   Increase exercise. Exercise is essential to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Although it is not possible to restore existing damage, exercise combined with medication will help prevent complications. Experts recommend 150 minutes of exercise per week, usually divided into 30 minutes per day for moderate intensity aerobic exercises like brisk walking.
   • Avoid participating in exercises that could cause serious injury, complications, or internal bleeding. Ask your doctor what kind of exercise is best suited for your medical condition and the type of medication you are taking.

3. 

   Change your diet. Making dietary changes can help prevent heart problems. In addition, diet can also help improve the effectiveness of medications to thin your blood and make you healthier.
   • Control portion sizes by using a small plate and keep track of the amount of food in each meal.
   • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as they are rich in vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants.
   • Eat whole grains instead of white flour.
   • Increase sources of good fats like nuts, fatty fish like tuna or salmon.
   • Increase lean protein in your diet such as egg whites, low-fat dairy products, and skinless chicken.
   • Eat foods low in saturated fat. The calories from saturated fat should be less than 7% of the total calories in the food you eat. Also, avoid trans fats, which should be less than 1% of the total calories in the food.
   • Avoid greasy, salty and overly fatty foods, fast, frozen, and pre-packaged foods. Healthy, advertised frozen foods can also contain a lot of salt. In addition, you should limit your intake of cakes, waffles and cold muffins.

4. 

   Drink a lot of water. Water is a natural blood thinner. Dehydration makes the blood thicker, causing clots to form blood clots. Drink plenty of water every day to help thin the blood and improve overall health.
   • Doctors recommend drinking about 1.8 liters of water per day. Or you should drink the amount of water based on the formula, for every 0.5 kg of weight you need to drink 15 ml of water. For example, if you weigh 70 kg, you need to drink 210 ml of water per day.
   • Don't drink too much water. Just drink enough water and don't force yourself to drink too much water if you feel too full.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Seeking medical help

1. 

   Talk to your doctor. Diseases such as blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, and stroke can be very serious and life-threatening. The disease can recur if not treated properly. If you have these conditions, you should have regular check-ups and need the care of your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help thin your blood and set you up on a special diet.
   • Although some foods can help thin or thicken the blood, you should never use foods or diet to thin the blood on your own.

2. 

   No self-healing. If you are at high risk or have had heart problems or stroke, do not attempt to thin your blood on your own. Diet and home remedies alone cannot help prevent blood clots or heart attacks. Diet and exercise only help prevent heart disease. If you have heart disease or a disease that requires blood thinning, just exercising and changing your diet will not be enough to prevent the disease.
   • Always follow your doctor's advice for medication and dietary changes.

3. 

   Recognize signs of bleeding. See your doctor right away if you are taking an anticoagulant and see signs or symptoms of significant bleeding. That could be a sign of internal bleeding, bleeding or hidden bleeding.
   • Seek medical help right away if bleeding is unusual. Examples include frequent nosebleeds, unusual bleeding from the gums (gums), menstrual bleeding or more vaginal bleeding than usual.
   • Get emergency help right away if you experience serious injury or bleeding that can't be controlled.
   • Seek medical help right away if there are signs of internal bleeding such as red, pink, or brown urine; bright red stools, streaky red or black, tarry stools; coughing up blood or blood clots; vomiting blood or vomiting something like coffee powder; headache; feeling dizzy, faint, or sick.
   advertisement

Warning

• Always follow your doctor's instructions for taking prescription medications, changing your diet, and getting medical treatment.
• Do not use herbal supplements without your doctor's approval. Currently, there are no herbal supplements that can help thin the blood effectively. Also, let your doctor know if you are taking any of these supplements to aid in the treatment of other medical conditions. Supplements can interfere with blood thinning medications and cause serious problems.