Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation - Dissertation Example

Anticoagulants are those which prevent blood clotting. Warfarin, aspirin, are some common drugs used as anticoagulants. The human heart beats in a regular pattern. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is caused due to the diversity of acute disorders and WPW syndrome. It could also result from digoxin toxicity. Atrial fibrillation could be classified as silent atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation in the setting of failure of heart, and atrial fibrillation within the setting of myocardial infarction. Atrial fibrillation disease is more common among older people. Current trends and prevalence of atrial fibrillation suggest that the occurrence of this disease has increased dramatically over the last few years and is still rising. AF becomes chronic, patients must be anticoagulated. For evaluating risks patient’s history, ECG report, demographics, as well as other related information, must be checked.

Anticoagulants are referred to as those particles in the blood that help in preventing the clotting of blood. This process takes place due to the binding of calcium ions, specifically EDTA, citrate. It is also caused by thrombin activity namely heparinase and hirudin. The additives change their chemical composition, resulting in the clotting of blood.

In our blood, or rather in plasma, the presence of both solid and liquid anticoagulants could be traced. (World Health Organization 2002, p. 5) Anticoagulants help in the development of platelet plugs and fibrin clots. It acts by expanding the actual time of blood clots. When the flesh is cut and blood starts flowing out vasospasm reduced bleeding. Extravascular collagen acts upon injured walls to stop bleeding. After coagulation, plate aggregation takes place. There are numerous drugs that are used as anticoagulants.

These drugs stop the thrombus from expanding (Brenner and Stevens, 2012, p. 156). Anticoagulant functions by preventing activities of certain blood chemicals. Blood factors are also affected by the use of anticoagulant medicines, and they stop functioning as well. On an average basis, anticoagulant medicines do not produce reactions immediately. They take one or two days to produce desired effects (Kenny, n.d). Anticoagulant medicines are used for treating blood clots in critical patients. Aspirin is one of the most common anticoagulants used.

It is basically an antiplatelet medicine. Thromboxane activates platelets and so they could not form a clot. However, aspirin is unable to dissolve any blood clot that has already formed. Heparin accounts for another anticoagulant medicine. This medicine works by preventing the formation of fibrin. Blood factors are inactivated. Thrombin is inactivated and as a result, blood factors are also inactivated. Thus this medicine contains features of both anticoagulants as well as antithrombotic. Warfarin (Coumadin) is another medicine that is used as an anticoagulant.

This medicine functions by stooping generation of coagulation factors that are dependent on vitamin K. this medicine is not prescribed for patients who have severe bleeding tendencies. Potentiating warfarin’s anticoagulant effects might also result in cerebral hemorrhage. For this reason, warfarin is used more in cases of venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis. Some other common anticoagulant medicines that are used for curing patients of heart attacks are dabigatran, rivaroxaban, acenocoumarol, and phenindione.