ANTICOAGULATION Meaning and
Definition
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Anticoagulation is a medical term that refers to the process of preventing or slowing down the formation of blood clots in the bloodstream or within the blood vessels. It involves the use of medication or other treatment methods to inhibit the clotting process, thus reducing the risk of thrombosis – the formation of harmful blood clots that can clog blood vessels and disrupt the normal flow of blood.
Anticoagulants are drugs prescribed to patients at risk of developing blood clots due to various medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or certain heart conditions. They work by interfering with the chemical reactions involved in the blood clotting process, thereby inhibiting the production of clotting proteins or preventing platelet aggregation. This prevents the formation of clots and helps to maintain normal blood flow.
Anticoagulation therapy may involve the use of oral medications, such as warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants, or the administration of injectable anticoagulants, such as heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin. It is often monitored through regular blood tests to measure the patient's clotting time and adjust the dosage accordingly.
While anticoagulation is highly beneficial in preventing thromboembolic events, it also carries the risk of bleeding, as it interferes with the body's ability to form clots to stop bleeding from wounds or injuries. Thus, careful monitoring and appropriate dosage management are crucial to achieve a balance between preventing blood clots and minimizing the risk of bleeding complications.
Common Misspellings for ANTICOAGULATION
- znticoagulation
- snticoagulation
- wnticoagulation
- qnticoagulation
- abticoagulation
- amticoagulation
- ajticoagulation
- ahticoagulation
- anricoagulation
- anficoagulation
- angicoagulation
- anyicoagulation
- an6icoagulation
- an5icoagulation
- antucoagulation
- antjcoagulation
- antkcoagulation
- antocoagulation
- ant9coagulation
- anticagulation
- Anticogalation
- Antikagulation
Etymology of ANTICOAGULATION
The word anticoagulation is formed by combining the prefix anti- meaning against or opposite and the word coagulation which refers to the process of blood clotting. Therefore, the term anticoagulation describes the action of preventing or inhibiting blood clot formation. The etymology can be traced back to Latin and Greek roots. The Latin term anti is derived from the Greek word anti meaning against or opposite. Similarly, the word coagulation comes from the Latin word coagulatio which means to curdle or to clot. Thus, the etymology of anticoagulation literally translates to against clotting.
Similar spelling words for ANTICOAGULATION
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