Poor patient warfarin knowledge may increase risk of deadly side effects
Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 03:01
in Health & Medicine
Patients have poor knowledge of warfarin which may increase their risk of serious side effects, according to research. Warfarin is given to patients at increased risk of blood clots from conditions such as atrial fibrillation or a mechanical heart valve. It 'thins the blood' by slowing down the anticoagulation effect of vitamin K, thereby increasing the time it takes blood to clot and reducing the risk of stroke. Taking too much warfain raises the risk of bleeding.