Anticoagulation in Sun City, Peoria & Glendale, AZ
Safe, Effective Anticoagulation at Cardiac Solutions
If you have a condition that causes frequent blood clots or increases your risk of clot-related events, your doctor will recommend anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulants are medications that prevent blood from clotting too easily and break down existing clots or prevent clots from forming. At Cardiac Solutions, we offer safe, effective anticoagulation in Sun City, Peoria, and Glendale, AZ. Our experienced, knowledgeable team of cardiologists specializes in diagnostic testing, clinical programs, and surgical options for cardiovascular conditions. Call us today to discuss treatment options for blood clotting disorders, including anticoagulation therapy.
About Anticoagulation Treatment
Anticoagulation treatment uses drugs called anticoagulants to prevent blood clots from forming, decrease your blood’s ability to clot, and break down existing blood clots. Anticoagulation treatment can be administered via injection, intravenous drugs, or oral medications. Your doctor or cardiologist might recommend anticoagulation treatment if you have a history of blood clots or if you have been diagnosed with a clotting disorder.
How Do I Know If I Need Anticoagulation Therapy?
Your doctor or cardiologist will let you know if you need anticoagulation therapy. It is recommended for patients who have suffered from:
A stroke can occur when a blood clot travels to the brain and becomes stuck in smaller blood vessels.
A pulmonary embolism can occur when a blood clot travels to the lungs and gets trapped in an artery. This condition can be deadly if the blockage is severe enough or if you don’t seek medical treatment in time.
A heart attack can occur when arteries that supply blood to the heart are blocked by a blood clot or other debris.
Anticoagulation is also recommended if you have a condition or disease that increases your risk of blood clots or any of the above conditions. These include:
trial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular heart rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart. Blood pools up because the upper chambers are beating too quickly to pump the blood effectively. This pooling blood can clot and then break off, traveling to your brain and causing a stroke.
A heart valve replacement can increase your risk of blood clots forming at the site of the new heart valve.
Any kind of joint replacement surgery can increase the risk of the formation of blood clots in the veins of the leg. Deep vein thrombosis is a condition that can cause a pulmonary embolism.
Conditions and diseases that affect how your blood clots are called blood clotting disorders. These conditions can be genetic or can occur due to injury, accident, illness, or as a side effect of another condition or medication.
Types of Anticoagulants
There are two main forms of anticoagulants: intravenous and injectable medications, and oral medications.
IV and Injectable Anticoagulants
- Heparin – Heparin inhibits blood clotting by activating the body’s natural anti-clotting process. One anti-clotting process is a protein in the blood called antithrombin. When heparin activates the antithrombin, it also keeps other parts of the clotting process from functioning normally. There are two main types of heparin: unfractionated heparin, which is stronger and very fast-acting; and low-molecular-weight heparin, which has more predictable, longer-lasting effects. There is also a third medication that is synthetic and operates like heparin: fondaparinux. Fondaparinux activates antithrombin over a much longer period but isn’t as strong as the other two medications.
- Direct Thrombin Inhibitors – Direct thrombin inhibitors, argatroban, desirudin, and bivalirudin, attach to thrombin and prevent it from assisting the clotting process. It is used as an alternative to heparin and prevents the formation of clots after medical procedures and injuries
Oral Anticoagulants
- Warfarin – Warfarin is a vitamin K agonist and blocks the use of vitamin K, which is a key agent in the clotting process. Warfarin requires careful dosing and regular lab testing. You may need to take warfarin if you have heart disease, a mechanical heart valve, or end-stage kidney disease.
- Direct Oral Anticoagulants – This group of medications includes dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban, and betrixaban, and can be taken regularly and only required lab testing every six months.
The Benefits of Anticoagulation Treatment
The primary benefit of anticoagulation treatment is that your risk of life-threatening conditions is significantly lowered. You will have reduced risk of stroke, pulmonary embolism, and heart attack. There are many different types of anticoagulants, so your cardiologist can find one that offers the safest, most effective method of treatment and prevention.
What Happens During Anticoagulation Management?
Anticoagulation management visits are used to monitor your progress and assess your risk of side effects or complications. Your cardiac team will schedule regular visits to check your INR and adjust your medication dosage to help you reach your INR goal. At each visit, your team will:
- Check your INR
- Adjust your anticoagulant dosage
- Discuss your medication plan
- Go over side effects and complications
- Assess diet and lifestyle changes
Choose Cardiac Solutions for Anticoagulation Treatment
We are a leader in the industry and have been providing cardiovascular treatments and clinical programs throughout Sun City, Glendale, and Peoria since 1984. Our team of experienced, board-certified cardiologists offer unparalleled care and a commitment to patient care and relationships. We have become a trusted provider of cardiac care due to our focus on finding safe, effective solutions and personalized care. We take a comprehensive and holistic approach to cardiac care and provide the patient with as much information and education as possible so they can make informed decisions about their care.
Schedule an Appointment for Anticoagulation Treatment
Call us today or contact us online to request more information about anticoagulation treatment in Sun City, Glendale, and Peoria, AZ. A member of our cardiac team will get in touch with you to assess your condition and schedule a consultation. We will review your health history, medical records, symptoms, lifestyle, and diagnoses, and determine a plan of action for your future cardiac care.
Our Reviews
Cardiac Solution has been very easy to deal with, the Doctors explain everything so | can understand, very professional and kind
The staff and Doctors show complete and concern for my heart health. They are always kind and caring, they listen to my questions and don't give the feeling of I need to hurry with my appointments. They always explain in turns that you can understand so that you can make the proper decision in your heart health.
Cardiac Solutions runs like a well oiled machine. Everyone works together for a great end result. Never a scheduling problem and the wait time from walkin to seeing the doctor is 10 to 15 min. You just can't beat that. Not a grouchy employee in the office. All seem to really like their job and it shows. Thank you for making my last visit a great experience.
Cardiac Solutions is staffed with the BEST...Docs, technologists, and all other personnel that | have come in contact with over the past 8+ years! | HIGHLY recommend them. So great to be treated by professionals who obviously love what they're doing
From the moment you walk in the door youre not by wonderful kind staff the entire experience from front office to Mid office to back office to your doctor visit his wonderful kind very well thought out an entire process is quick and flawless. They truly set the standard that other doctor offices should follow