Although Carers at Home administer medication daily to our clients, including Warfarin, it is important to note we are not medical professionals and we are unable to provide medical advice.
This post is for general reference only and you should always refer to and take the advice of your medical professional.
Warfarin is the most prescribed anticoagulant in the UK. It is prescribed by doctors to make blood flow throw veins more easily. The idea behind this is to try and prevent blood clots forming and causing a blockage in the circulatory system.
According to the NHS website
Warfarin is used to treat blood clots and help prevent future blood clots if you've had one previously, such as:
a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT)
a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
It's also used to prevent blood clots if you're at high risk of having them in the future.
This includes people with:
an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
a replacement or mechanical heart valve
a blood clotting disorder, such as thrombophilia
To learn more from the NHS website please click on the button below
As with all medication there can be side effects to taking anticoagulants. Although blood clots can be dangerous they play an important role in stopping bleeding following a cut. When taking an anticoagulant stopping bleeding following a cut can take longer resulting in more blood loss.
The NHS provides advice on what someone taking an anticoagulant should do help themselves in certain situations
Cuts – press on the cut for 10 minutes with a clean cloth.
Nosebleeds – sit or stand upright (do not lie down), pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes, lean forward and breathe through your mouth, and place an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a teatowel) at the top of your nose.
Bleeding gums – try using a soft toothbrush and waxed dental floss to clean your teeth.
Bruises – these are harmless, but can be unsightly. It might help to make them fade more quickly if you put an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the bruise for 10 minutes at a time several times a day.
The NHS also advises what people taking anticoagulants can do to reduce the risk of bleeding
avoid playing contact sports or other activities that can cause an injury, such as football, rugby, hockey and horse riding
wear gloves when you use sharp objects like scissors, knives and gardening tools
stop wet shaving or removing hair with wax – use an electric razor or hair-removing cream instead
take false teeth (dentures) or retainers out for a few hours a day, if you wear them, to give your gums a rest – do not wear dentures or retainers that do not fit properly
tell your doctor, dentist or nurse that you take warfarin before you have any medical or dental procedures or surgery – this includes vaccinations and routine appointments with the dental hygienist
The British Heart Foundation has created a useful article on anticoagulants which can be viewed by clicking on the below link
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