Medication Management

You play a key role in developing your medication treatment plan. It's important to work closely with your health care providers. These could include your doctor, nurse and pharmacist. © AHA

Taking medications properly is another part of compliance. Medicines may not work unless taken as prescribed. Or they can leave you dizzy, sick or worse. Or, without knowing it, you could counteract one medicine by taking it with another. Take part in treatment decisions and, if you don't understand something, ask questions. Carefully follow the agreed upon treatment plan, and watch for and work with your healthcare team to solve any problems.

Dr. Clyde Yancy, former American Heart Association president, stresses the importance of understanding and taking your medications.

Watch how blood clots are helpful in healing skin injuries, but dangerous when they form inside a blood vessel.

Watch how a blood clot can threaten your life, when it forms inside of a blood vessel.

Learn the goal of anticoagulant medication, and who may be prescribed anticoagulant therapy.

Follow this checklist to help you take your anticoagulant safely.

See what common and uncommon side effects you may experience when taking an anticoagulant, and when to call either your doctor or 911 for help.

Watch how you can help prevent common injuries while on an anticoagulant, and what to do in case of emergency.

Find out why anticoagulants, or blood thinner drugs, are prescribed and how they work. You'll need to follow some important but simple self-care rules to stay safe on blood thinners. Watch this video to learn more.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are medicines that reduce blood clotting in an artery, vein or the heart. Doctors prescribe these to help prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots. Blood clots can block blood flow to your heart or your brain causing a heart attack or stroke. © AHA

Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are medicines that reduce blood clotting in an artery, vein or the heart. Doctors prescribe these to help prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots. Blood clots can block blood flow to your heart or your brain causing a heart attack or stroke. © AHA

The more conventional anticoagulants are warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin. DOACs are a newer class of medications that may be more convenient to take if you are a suitable candidate for them. © AHA

Platelets are small particles in the blood that clump together to form blood clots. These blood clots can lead to the sudden clotting of a coronary stent and to a heart attack. Antiplatelet agents are a class of drugs that stop the platelets from clumping together and forming blood clots. Many heart attack and stroke patients - and people seeking to avoid these events - are treated with two types of antiplatelet agents. This is called dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). © AHA