What are anticoagulants?
An anticoagulant is a drug (blood thinner) that treats, prevents, and reduces the risk of blood clots-breaking off and traveling to vital organs of the body, which can lead to life threatening situations. They work by preventing blood from coagulating to form a clot in the vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain.
For example, a DVT or deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg or lower extremity) can happen if you have a medical condition that keeps you immobile or if you have been sitting for n long period of time without getting up and stretching, like traveling by plane, car, or train. If the clot breaks off from the vein or artery of a leg it can get lodged in the blood vessels of the lung where it can form a clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism). This is a life threatening medical condition. Similarly, a stroke can be caused by a clot lodged in a vessel in the brain.
Anticoagulant treatment is used to prevent the formation of new blood clots, and to treat existing clots by preventing them from growing larger in size. It also reduces the risk of embolization of blood clots to other vital organs such as the lungs and brain.
What are anticoagulants used for?
An anticoagulant medicine is used in patients to prevent blood clots from forming in veins, arteries, the heart, and the brain of a patient. For example, if the clot travels to the patient's heart it can cause a heart attack or if one forms in the brain it may cause a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke, transient ischemic attack).
Examples of diseases and health conditions that require treatment with anticoagulants to reduce the risk of clots forming, or are used to prevent life-threatening problems include:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- For the prevention or treatment of:
- Pulmonary embolism
- Blood clots within venous and arterial catheters
- Stent thrombosis
- Blood clots during atrial fibrillation (afib) treatment

SLIDESHOW
What Happens After a Stroke? Signs, Symptoms, Types See SlideshowWhat are the side effects of anticoagulant blood thinners?
The most common side effect of treatment with anticoagulant medicine is bleeding. Treatment with these products may cause various degrees of bleeding, including fatal bleeds.
This list of adverse effects associated with anticoagulants are compiled from adverse effects listed for various anticoagulants and may not apply to every medicine.
Common side effects include:
- Bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Flatulence (intestinal gas)
- Headache
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Local injection site reactions
- Nausea
- Anemia
- Bruises caused by trauma (ecchymosis)
- Diarrhea
Other side effects include:
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Rash
- Itching (pruritus)
- Changes is sense of taste
- Fainting (syncope)
- Shortness of breath
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Chest pain
Serious side effects include:
- Cholesterol embolus syndrome
- Intraocular hemorrhage
- Groin hemorrhage
- Tissue necrosis
- Hematuria
- Anemia
- Hepatitis
- Respiratory tract bleeding
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- "Purple toe" syndrome
- Increased fracture risk with long-term usage
- Calciphylaxis
- Elevation of serum aminotransferases
- Thrombocytopenia
What drugs interact with anticoagulants?
Treatment with more than one blood thinner or using medicine that can cause bleeding will increase the risk of bleeding from any anticoagulant. Examples of drugs that also can cause bleeding when they interact include:
- Antiplatelet medicine such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (for example, ibuprofen [Motrin], naproxen [Aleve]), clopidogrel (Plavix), and prasugrel (Effient)
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil).
- Garlic and ginkgo also increase the risk of bleeding when combined with another medicine that thins the blood because these herbs can cause bleeding when taken alone.
- Drug and herbal supplement interactions with warfarin
Several drugs may increase or decrease the anticoagulant effect of warfarin (Jantoven) therapy. Drugs that increase warfarin's anticoagulating effect by reducing its breakdown include:
- amiodarone (Cordarone)
- trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
- fluconazole (Diflucan)
- itraconazole (Sporanox)
- fluvastatin
- fluvoxamine
- metronidazole miconazole
- voriconazole (Vfend)
- zafirlukast (Accolate)
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- cimetidine
- atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- clarithromycin (Biaxin)
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- indinavir (Crixivan)
- ritonavir (Norvir)
Some drugs and herbal products that may reduce the anticoagulating effect of warfarin by increasing its breakdown include:
- St. John's wort
- carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Equetro, Carbatrol)
- rifampin, bosentan (Tracleer)
- prednisone
Use of warfarin with foods high in Vitamin K
Foods with high vitamin K content (for example, green leafy vegetables) reduce the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. It's important for patients to try to consume a consistent amount of vitamin K containing foods to avoid fluctuations in the effect of warfarin. A patient that regularly consumes high vitamin K containing foods may require a higher dose of warfarin (Jantoven) to achieve the desired level of anticoagulation.
Are anticoagulants, aspirin, and antiplatelets the same type of drug?
No. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets differ in how they work. Anticoagulants prevent blood coagulation by reducing the action of clotting factors directly or indirectly. Antiplatelets work by inhibiting the ability of platelets to participate in the clotting process. Aspirin is an example of an antiplatelet medication.
Who shouldn't take anticoagulants?
Anticoagulation therapy is not recommended for patients with certain diseases or health conditions because they increase the risk of bleeding. Patients who have any of the following health problems or are pregnant shouldn't use this type of therapy.
- Hemophilia or another bleeding disorder
- Are pregnant
- High risk of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke)
- Cerebral aneurysm
- Dissecting aorta
- Pericarditis
- Pericardial effusion
- Bacterial endocarditis
- Active ulceration
- An active bleed
- Are undergoing surgery
Subscribe to MedicineNet's Heart Health Newsletter
By clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. I also agree to receive emails from MedicineNet and I understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet subscriptions at any time.
Different types or classes of anticoagulants
There are different types of anticoagulants, and they are classified by how they affect the normal coagulation pathway (see the mechanism of action section). The different classes are:
- Vitamin K antagonists (coumarin anticoagulants)
- Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH)
- Direct thrombin inhibitors
- Factor Xa Inhibitors
List of brand and generic names, and preparations (oral, injection, tablet, pill, powder)
Vitamin K antagonists
- warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) – oral tablets
Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and heparin (vials and syringes)
- enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- dalteparin (Fragmin)
- heparin
Thrombin inhibitors
- bivalirudin (Angiomax) – powder for injection
- argatroban (Acova) - injection
- dabigatran (Pradaxa) – oral capsule
- antithrombin III (Thrombate III) – powder for injection
Factor Xa Inhibitors (These are relatively new anticoagulants)
- apixaban (Eliquis) – oral tablets
- fondaparinux (Arixtra) - injection
- rivaroxaban (Xarelto) – oral tablets
- edoxaban (Savaysa) – oral coated tablets
From 
Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Is it safe to take an anticoagulant if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Most anticoagulants have not been adequately studied in patients who are pregnant because clinical trials exclude them. Therefore, this type of therapy generally is avoided during pregnancy and should be used during pregnancy only if the potential health benefit justifies the potential dangers to the fetus.
- Warfarin, specifically, is a medication that should be avoided if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. Birth defects and fetal bleeding have been reported during this type of therapy when taken during pregnancy. Be careful to not get pregnant if you are currently on this type of therapy. If you do become pregnant or are trying to conceive contact your doctor immediately.
- Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant medicine that does not cross the placenta and shows no evidence of effects on the fetus. It is often recommended by doctors for patients who are pregnant as an alternative to oral therapy with warfarin, which cannot be safely used during pregnancy.
- There is little data about the excretion of this medicine in breast milk. Available evidence suggests that warfarin is not secreted in breast milk. Since most medicines are excreted in breast milk, medical experts generally recommended that if you are receiving this type of therapy you should not breastfeed.
How do anticoagulants work?
How vitamin K antagonists (warfarin) cause anticoagulation
- Warfarin prevents the formation of a blood clots in patients by reducing the production of factors II, VII, IX, and X, and the anticoagulant proteins C and S by the liver. These factors are involved in the body's natural clotting process. The production of these factors by the liver are dependent on adequate amounts of vitamin K. Warfarin reduces the production of the factors because it antagonizes vitamin K. The dose of warfarin is carefully adjusted to achieve optimal anticoagulation while minimizing the risk of bleeding.
How low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and heparin cause anticoagulation
- Heparin and low molecular weight heparins prevent a blood clot from forming by blocking the action of two of the 12 clot-promoting proteins in the blood (factors X and II) whose action is necessary for blood to clot. Low molecular weight heparins are produced by chemically breaking heparin into smaller-sized molecules. Unlike heparin, medical professionals do not monitor the effect of low molecular weight heparins with blood tests and the dose of a low molecular weight heparin is not titrated.
How thrombin inhibitors cause anticoagulation
- Thrombin inhibitors work by blocking the action of thrombin, a protein that is necessary for the coagulation of blood and the formation of a blood clot. Reducing the action of thrombin reduces the ability of blood to clot.
How factor Xa inhibitors cause anticoagulation
- Factor Xa inhibitors are novel anticoagulants. They block the action of factor Xa which is an important protein in the coagulation cascade that causes blood to clot. Reducing the action of factor Xa reduces the ability of blood to clot.
What else should I know about anticoagulants?
Preparations
Drugs in this class are available as tablets, capsules, powder for injection, prefilled syringes, and in vials containing a solution for injection. Some intravenous anticoagulants (for example, bivalirudin, and heparin) are administered via an intravenous infusion while receiving medical care in the hospital.
Storage
Oral anticoagulants are stored at room temperature. Prefilled syringes and multiple dose vials of low molecular weight heparins, and heparin vials are also stored at room temperature.
Summary
Anticoagulants are drugs that inhibit blood clots from forming in the veins and arteries of the body. There are a variety of uses for these drugs, which include the treatment or prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism), stroke, blood clots during AFib, and heart attacks.
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
-
Atrial Fibrillation: Heart Symptoms, Diagnosis, & AFib Treatment
AFib symptoms like heart racing, fluttering, and irregular heart beat may be caused by heart disease, obesity, alcohol use,...
-
Heart Healthy Diet: 25 Foods You Should Eat
What foods are heart healthy? Learn what foods help protect your cardiovascular system from heart attack, coronary heart disease,...
-
Heart Disease: Causes of a Heart Attack
Heart disease prevention includes controlling risk factors like diet, exercise, and stress. Heart disease symptoms in women may...
-
Am I Having a Heart Attack? Symptoms of Heart Disease
Heart attacks symptoms vary greatly for men and women, from anxiety and fatigue to nausea and sweating. Learn the warning signs...
-
DVT: 12 Tips to Improve Your Circulation
Blood needs to pump to every corner of your body to keep it running well. WebMD shows you how to rev up your circulation.
-
A Visual Guide to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous and sometimes fatal blood clot that occurs deep within the lower leg or thigh....
-
Heart Disease: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes
What is heart disease (coronary artery disease)? Learn about the causes of heart disease, arrhythmias and myopathy. Symptoms of...
-
What Happens After a Stroke? Signs, Symptoms, Types
What is a stroke? Learn about the different types of stroke, as well as many symptoms like sudden numbness or weakness,...
-
Omega 3 Foods: Health Benefits, Research, Best Supplements
What does research say are the best omega 3 supplements? What are the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids? Learn how Omega 3 rich...
-
Blood Clots: 4 Signs You Could Have One
Blood clots can be deadly medical emergencies that can form in different parts of your body. Learn the warning signs that you...
-
High Protein Diets: Good or Bad?
Can a high protein diet help you lose weight fast and help you feel full? High-protein diets are popular, but is there a down...
-
Healthy Eating: Foods That Help Increase Blood Flow Circulation
Good blood flow circulation occurs when you eat the right foods. Choose cayenne pepper, beets, berries, fatty fish, pomegranate,...
-
Surprising Causes of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
Long flights aren't the only thing that put you at risk for deep vein thrombosis. WebMD tells you about the lesser-known causes...
-
Ten Things That Put Athletes at Risk for DVT
Discover the connection between athletes and deep vein thrombosis. Learn what puts athletes at risk for developing DVT.
-
Diet for Stress Management: Carbs, Nuts, and Other Stress-Relief Foods
While there are many ways to cope with stress, one strategy is to eat stress-fighting foods. Find out which foods to eat as part...
-
Salt & Low Sodium Diet Quiz
Do you love salt? Take the online Salt Quiz to get the facts about dietary salts and sodium in fruits, vegetables, processed...
-
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): Tips for Living with Atrial Fibrillation
Learn how to live easier with atrial fibrillation. What is AFib? Find out the symptoms and causes of this heart condition....
-
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Quiz
Take the Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Quiz to learn causes, symptoms, and treatments for these two dangerous...
-
Stroke Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Take the Stroke Quiz to learn about stroke risks, causes, treatment, and most importantly, prevention.
-
Sugar Quiz: Facts on Diet & Sugar
Sugar lurks in surprising places. Take the Sugar Quiz to learn of the many ways sugar sneaks into your diet and see what you know...
-
Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of the common heart abnormality known as atrial fibrillation (A-fib).
-
Heart Disease Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Take our Heart Disease Quiz to get answers and facts about high cholesterol, atherosclerosis prevention, and the causes,...
-
Picture of Heart Detail
The heart is composed of specialized cardiac muscle, and it is four-chambered, with a right atrium and ventricle, and an...
-
Picture of Blood Clot
Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. See a picture of Blood Clot and learn more about the health topic.
-
Picture of Heart
The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. See a picture of the Heart and learn more...
-
Vegetarian Diet: Benefits, Meat Substitutions, and Meal Plans
Vegetarian diet plans have benefits like weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Vegetarian diet...
-
DVT: Dos and Don’ts After a Blood Clot
If you’ve had a blood clot, like a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), you might need to make a few changes...
-
What Are Triglycerides? How to Lower Triglyceride Levels
What is a triglyceride? What are high triglycerides? Triglyceride levels need to be kept in check for good health, but you need...
-
Food Swaps for Meals and Snacks for Heart Health in Pictures
Explore 10 food swaps for heart-wise dining. Learn what food to buy and how to cook in order to make a big difference for your...
Related Disease Conditions
-
Blood Clots (in the Leg)
Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract, and uterus. Risk factors include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms and treatment depend on the location of the clot.
-
Are Blood Clots Normal in Early Pregnancy?
Around 15-20% of pregnant women experience bleeding during the first trimester. Light bleeding can be normal, but heavy bleeding or clots can indicate something more serious. Always let your doctor or midwife know if you're experiencing any bleeding.
-
Heart Attack Symptoms and Early Warning Signs
Recognizing heart attack symptoms and signs can help save your life or that of someone you love. Some heart attack symptoms, including left arm pain and chest pain, are well known but other, more nonspecific symptoms may be associated with a heart attack. Nausea, vomiting, malaise, indigestion, sweating, shortness of breath, and fatigue may signal a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms and signs in women may differ from those in men.
-
How the Heart Works
The heart is a very important organ in the body. It is responsible for continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. It is a fist-sized muscle that beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping a total of five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
-
14 Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke FAST
Stroke is a serious medical condition. If you think you or someone you know is having a stroke call 911 immediately. There are two main types of strokes, hemorrhagic and ischemic (the most common type). A hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to a blood vessel rupture in the brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot becomes lodged in a blood vessel in the brain, which causes a loss of blood supply to the brain, possibly causing brain tissue death. FAST is an acronym that helps people identify stroke signs and symptoms so they can act fast and call 911. Face drooping, Arm weakness, and Speech difficulty are indicators that a person may be having a stroke and it is Time to seek emergency medical treatment. Additional signs and symptoms of stroke may include weakness, difficulty walking, blurred vision, dizziness, headache, confusion, difficulty speaking, and loss of sensation. Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the U.S. Early identification and treatment of stroke helps reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality.
-
Can a Chest Muscle Strain Feel Like a Heart Attack?
Chest muscle strains can cause sudden, acute pain that feels like a heart attack. Learn the signs of a chest muscle strain, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it. A panic attack is an intense wave of fear accompanied by symptoms like sweating, shaking, dizziness and others. A heart attack is a blockage in blood flow to the heart. The symptoms of a heart attack and panic attack are similar, but they have different outcomes.
-
What Heart Rate Is a Heart Attack?
While no one particular heart rate qualifies as a heart attack, a rapid heart rate outside 60 to 100 beats per minute should be monitored closely.
-
Arrhythmias (Abnormal Heart Rhythms)
Heart rhythm disorders vary from minor palpitations, premature atrial contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), sinus tachycardia, and sinus bradycardia, to abnormal heart rhythms such as tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, brachycardia, or heart blocks. Treatment is dependent upon the type of heart rhythm disorder.
-
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is an abnormality in the heart rhythm, which involves irregular and often rapid beating of the heart. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Atrial fibrillation treatment may include medication or procedures like cardioversion or ablation to normalize the heart rate.
-
Stroke
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain caused by either a blood clot (ischemic) or bleeding (hemorrhagic). Symptoms of a stroke may include weakness, numbness, double vision or vision loss, confusion, vertigo, difficulty speaking, or understanding speech. A physical exam, imaging tests, neurological exam, and blood tests may be used to diagnose a stroke. Treatment may include administration of clot-busting drugs, supportive care, and in some instances, neurosurgery. The risk of stroke can be reduced by controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and stopping smoking.
-
Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot in the Lung)
A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a piece of a blood clot from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) breaks off and travels to an artery in the lung where it blocks the artery and damages the lung. The most common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are shortness of breath, chest pain, and a rapid heart rate. Causes of pulmonary embolism include prolonged immobilization, certain medications, smoking, cancer, pregnancy, and surgery. Pulmonary embolism can cause death if not treated promptly.
-
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA, Mini-Stroke)
When a portion of the brain loses blood supply, through a blood clot or embolus, a transient ischemic attack (TIA, mini-stroke) may occur. If the symptoms do not resolve, a stroke most likely has occurred. Learn the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment for a transient ischemic attack.
-
Atrial Flutter vs. Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation (AFib) are two types of a heart problem called atrial tachycardia. Both of these conditions involve the heart's electrical activity, but they are not the same disease. Both diseases are serious and need medical treatment. Common symptoms of these diseases are similar and include: Fatigue Blurry vision Lightheadedness Palpitations Feeling like you may faint Serious symptoms of both conditions are similar and include: Fainting Sweating Severe shortness of breath Chest pain Atrial flutter and AFib are heart conditions that require medical diagnosis (ECG) and treatment by a doctor or other medical health-care professional.
-
Heart Disease
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart. Heart disease can lead to heart attack. Risk factors for heart disease include: Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol Diabetes Family history Obesity Angina, shortness of breath, and sweating are just a few symptoms that may indicate a heart attack. Treatment of heart disease involves control of heart disease risk factors through lifestyle changes, medications, and/or stenting or bypass surgery. Heart disease can be prevented by controlling heart disease risk factors.
-
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
A heart attack occurs when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. Learn about warning signs, causes, complications, risk factors, and treatment.
-
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT, Blood Clot in the Legs)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in the deep veins, and can be caused by broken bones, trauma to a limb, immobility, medications, smoking, cancer, genetic predisposition, and cancer. Symptoms and signs of a deep vein thrombosis in a leg are swelling, tenderness, redness, warmth, and pain. Treatments for DVT include medications and surgery.
-
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels (arteries and veins) located outside the heart and brain. While there are many causes of peripheral vascular disease, doctors commonly use the term peripheral vascular disease to refer to peripheral artery disease (peripheral arterial disease, PAD), a condition that develops when the arteries that supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease symptoms include intermittent leg pain while walking, leg pain at rest, numbness in the legs or feet, and poor wound healing in the legs or feet. Treatment for peripheral artery disease include lifestyle measures, medication, angioplasty, and surgery.
-
What Does Big Blood Clots in Period Mean?
It is normal to pass blood clots occasionally during menstruation; however, frequently passing large blood clots could be a sign of any underlying issue.
-
Atrial Flutter: ECG, Symptoms, and Treatments
Atrial flutter is a problem with the atria of the heart. In atrial flutter the atria of the heart rapidly and repeatedly beat due to an anomaly in the electrical system of the heart. It is a type of arrhythmia and can be dangerous because complications can develop easily. Signs and symptoms of atrial flutter include near fainting, palpitations, mild shortness of breath, and fatigue. While the exact cause of atrial flutter is not clearly understood, it's most likely related to your health, what medical conditions you certainly have, poor diet, lack of exercise, and drinking too much alcohol. Atrial flutter is diagnosed by physical examination, medical history, and a sawtooth ECG wave pattern.
-
How Serious Is a Blood Clot in the Lungs?
A blood clot is a solid or semisolid clump of blood. When the tissues of our body are injured, excessive blood loss is prevented by the clotting of blood. When a blood clot occurs inside the blood vessels it may lead to serious medical conditions. When a blood clot occurs inside the arteries to the lungs, the condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE).
-
Heart Attack vs. Stroke Symptoms, Differences, and Similarities
Heart attack usually is caused by a clot that stops blood flow supplying oxygen to an area of heart muscle, which results in heart muscle death. Stroke or "brain attack" is caused by a loss of blood supply to the brain (usually a blood clot) or by hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding within the brain), which results in brain tissue death. Both heart attack and stroke usually come on suddenly, produce similar symptoms, can be disabling, and can be fatal. The classic symptoms and warning signs of heart attack are different. Classic heart attack warning signs are chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, pain that radiates to the shoulders, back, arms, belly, jaw, or teeth, sweating, fainting, and nausea and vomiting. Moreover, woman having a heart attack may have additional symptoms like abdominal pain or discomfort, dizziness, clammy skin, and moderate to severe fatigue. The classic symptoms and warning signs that a person is having a stroke are confusion or loss of consciousness, sudden severe headache, speech problems, problems seeing out of one or both eyes, and numbness or weakness of only one side of the body. Moreover, a woman having a stroke may have additional warning symptom and signs like shortness of breath, disorientation, agitation, behavioral changes, weakness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and hiccups. Recognition of stroke symptoms is vital for emergency treatment. The acronym "FAST" stands for recognition of Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and a Time for action. If you experience the symptoms heart attack or stroke (FAST) or see them develop in another person, then contact 911 immediately.
-
Heart Attack vs. Heartburn
Heartburn is a symptom of another disease or medical problem and can be described as a feeling of burning in the chest accompanied by symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or a sour taste or food stuck in the back of the throat. Heart attack occurs when an artery in the heart is completely blocked by a blood clot, which causes that portion of heart muscle to die. Heart attack also has symptoms of chest pain, nausea, and vomiting, however, other warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack are unusual weakness or fatigue, and persistent and/or increased severity of symptoms over a few minutes. Heart attack is a life threatening emergency. If you think you or someone you are with is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately for urgent medical treatment. It may save your life.
-
What Are the Side Effects After a Heart Attack?
Here are 9 possible side effects that may occur following a heart attack, which are all serious medical complications that may be life-threatening.
-
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that help decrease one's cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Omega-3s are found in salmon, sardines, walnuts, and canola oil. These fats may help reduce the risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death.
-
What Are the Four Signs of an Impending Heart Attack?
A heart attack occurs when the blood vessel that supplies blood to your heart (coronary artery) gets blocked – partially or completely. The lack of blood supply means the heart does not get enough oxygen or nutrients.
-
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Symptoms and Signs
Atrial fibrillation or AFib is a type of heart rhythm abnormality. Early warning signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Treatment for atrial fibrillation includes medical procedures, surgery, and medication.
-
Moyamoya Disease
Moyamoya disease is an inherited (genetic) progressive cerebrovascular disorder caused by arteries that are blocked at the base of the brain. Moyamoya means "puff of smoke" in Japanese. Signs and symptoms of Moyamoya disease in adults include fainting, and vision problems, and in children included may include headaches and speech problems. There are 6 stages of Moyamoya disease. Surgery is the preferred treatment for the disease, and there is no cure for Moyamoya disease, and it can be fatal.
-
Stress and Heart Disease
Stress itself may be a risk factor for heart disease, or high levels of stress may make risk factors for heart disease worse. The warning signs of stress can be physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral. Check out the center below for more medical references on stress and heart disease, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
-
Heart Attack Treatment
A heart attack involves damage or death of part of the heart muscle due to a blood clot. The aim of heart attack treatment is to prevent or stop this damage to the heart muscle. Heart attack treatments included medications, procedures, and surgeries to protect the heart muscle against injury.
-
DVT and Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that has traveled deep into the veins of the arm, pelvis, or lower extremities. Oral contraceptives or birth control pills can slightly increase a woman's risk for developing blood clots, including DVT. DVT symptoms and signs in the leg include leg or calf pain, redness, swelling, warmth, or leg cramps, and skin discoloration. If a blood clot in the leg is not treated, it can travel to the lungs, which can cause a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) or post-thrombotic syndrome, both of which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Increased risk factors for DVT and birth control pills include over 40 years of age, family history, smoking, and obesity. Other medical problems that increase the risks of blood clots, for example, lung or heart disease, or inflammatory bowel disease or IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Other options for preventing pregnancy include IUDs, birth control shots, condoms, diaphragms, and progestin-only oral contraceptives.
-
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Heart Attack?
While it takes most people about 6-8 months to recover after a heart attack, overall recovery time depends on your general health, how severe the attack was, the type of treatment you received and when you received it.
-
What Is the Difference Between a Thrombus and a Blood Clot?
What makes a thrombus different from a blood clot? Learn about the differences between a thrombus and a blood clot, and how these conditions are treated.
-
What Are the Differences Between Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest and Stroke?
Heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest are severe medical conditions (emergencies) that need immediate medical treatment. Learn the differences between a heart attack, cardiac arrest, and stroke below.
-
Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease in women has somewhat different symptoms, risk factors, and treatment compared to heart disease in men. Many women and health professionals are not aware of the risk factors for heart disease in women and may delay diagnosis and treatment. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, tobacco use, overweight/obesity, stress, alcohol consumption, and depression influence heart disease risk in women. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes also increase women's risk of heart disease. Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), stress-ECG, endothelial testing, ankle-brachial index (ABI), echocardiogram, nuclear imaging, electron beam CT, and lab tests to assess blood lipids and biomarkers of inflammation are used to diagnose heart disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women saves lives. Heart disease can be prevented and reversed with lifestyle changes.
-
How Do You Know If You Have a Blood Clot in Your Leg?
Blood clots are clumps of blood formed when the blood changes from a fluid to a semisolid form. When a blood clot is formed in one of the large veins in the legs or arms, the condition is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A blot clot in your leg can hamper the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. An untreated DVT may cause the clot to grow bigger and break in small pieces that can travel to other organs, such as the heart and lungs, causing serious consequences.
-
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) During Pregnancy
Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a condition in which a blood clot becomes embedded in one of the deep veins of the arms, thighs, pelvis, or lower legs. Warning signs and symptoms of DVT include pain, warmth, redness, swelling, leg cramps, and worsening leg pain in the affected extremity. Many conditions and other factors can cause DVTs, for example, during pregnancy including postpartum (6-8 weeks after delivery of the baby), obesity, heart attacks or heart failure, cancer, birth control pills (oral contraceptives), recent surgery, high altitudes, and advanced age. Treatment guidelines for DVT diagnosed during pregnancy is anticoagulation (anti-clotting) drugs, usually, low-molecular-weight heparins. DVT treatment may need to be continued postpartum. Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) should not be used to treat DVT during pregnancy because it can harm the developing fetus.
-
What Are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Women?
Many women think that the typical signs of a heart attack like crushing chest pain and shortness of breath can be easily recognized and cannot be missed. The 4 silent signs of a heart attack are fatigue, chest pain, pain in the upper back, shoulder, arms, neck or jaw, and sleep disturbances.
-
Heart Attack Pathology: Photo Essay
A heart attack is a layperson's term for a sudden blockage of a coronary artery. This photo essay includes graphics, pictures, and illustrations of diseased heart tissue and the mechanisms that lead to coronary artery disease, and possible heart attack. A coronary artery occlusion may be fatal, but most patients survive it. Death can occur when the occlusion leads to an abnormal heartbeat (severe arrhythmia) or death of heart muscle (extensive myocardial infarction).
-
Is Lupus and Lupus Anticoagulant the Same?
Lupus is an autoimmune condition and lupus anticoagulant refers to antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Lupus and lupus anticoagulant are not the same.
-
What Is a Widowmaker Heart Attack?
A Widowmaker is a type of heart attack, which is deadlier than most others. A widowmaker heart attack occurs when the left ascending artery (LAD) that supplies blood to the front part of the heart (largest part) is clogged-up because of clots in the arterial wall. This causes the death of heart muscle in this area, medically termed myocardial infarction. Because the widowmaker damages a major portion of the heart, timely management is necessary to prevent fatalities.
-
Can DVT Cause Acute Limb Ischemia?
Acute limb ischemia caused by DVT is a rare and potentially fatal complication that can result in arterial circulation impairment, tissue ischemia, or limb gangrene.
-
Heart Attack Prevention
Heart disease and heart attacks can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise, and stress management. Symptoms of heart attack in men and women include chest discomfort and pain in the shoulder, neck, jaw, stomach, or back.
-
Smoking and Heart Disease
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease in women and men. Nicotine in cigarettes decrease oxygen to the heart, increases blood pressure, blood clots, and damages coronary arteries. Learn how to quit smoking today, to prolong your life.
-
Heart Disease Treatment in Women
Heart disease treatment in women should take into account female-specific guidelines that were developed by the American Heart Association. Risk factors and symptoms of heart disease in women differ from those in men. Treatment may include lifestyle modification (diet, exercise, weight management, smoking cessation, stress reduction), medications, percutaneous intervention procedure (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Heart disease is reversible with treatment.
-
What Are the First Signs of a Heart Attack in a Woman?
A heart attack happens when a blocked artery prevents blood from reaching your heart. Some people, especially women, may have a heart attack without any chest pain or pressure, but may experience chest tightness and aching.
-
What Does a Blood Clot Feel Like?
Blood clots are semi-solid masses of blood that may be immobile (thrombosis) and impede blood flow or dislodge to other parts of the body (embolism). Deep vein clots, if dislodged, can travel through veins through the lungs to the arteries in the lungs. This is referred to as a pulmonary embolism and can be deadly. Blood clots can also lead to a heart attack or stroke.
-
How Do I Know if I'm Having a Panic Attack or Heart Attack?
If your chest feels tight and you find it hard to breathe, is it a heart attack or a panic attack? You age, how long symptoms last, and what you are doing when symptoms come on help determine if you are having a panic attack or a heart attack.
-
Vitamins & Exercise: Heart Attack Prevention Series
Vitamins and exercise can lower your risk for heart attack and heart disease. Folic acid, vitamins, and homocysteine levels are interconnected and affect your risk for heart disease or heart attack. For better heart health, avoid the following fried foods, hard margarine, commercial baked goods, most packaged and processed snack foods, high fat dairy, and processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and deli meats.
-
Can Angina Lead to a Heart Attack?
Angina, or angina pectoris, is a sudden chest pain caused by low blood flow to the heart. Yes, some types of angina attacks can lead to heart complications.
-
Heart Attack Prevention Overview
Heart attacks are the major causes of unexpected, sudden death among men and women. A heart attack also is a significant cause of heart failure. The process of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) begins early in life. Heart attack prevention should begin in childhood because the atherosclerosis process can not be reversed. The risk of having a heart attack increases if you have diseases or conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other heart conditions.
-
Can You Have Sex Right After a Heart Attack?
It is important not to put any pressure on yourself or your heart after heart attack. Initially, you might feel less interested in sex. That is perfectly normal, and the feeling goes away quickly.
-
What Does a Sudden Heart Attack Feel Like?
In most cases, a sudden heart attack may feel like pain, pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the chest that lasts for a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
Treatment & Diagnosis
- Sugar FAQs
- Heart Disease FAQs
- Stroke FAQs
- Salt FAQs
- Atrial Fibrillation A-Fib FAQs
- Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism FAQs
- Heart Attack - New Blood Test For Earlier Accurate Diagnosis
- Pulmonary Embolism -Lung Blood Clot Risk Factors In Women
- Higher Chance of Blood Clots Forming?
- Heartburn or Heart Attack? Emergency In Flight
- Any promising measures that may prevent heart attacks?
- Heart Attack Prevention From a Doctor's Perspective
- How Pie Prevents Blood Clots
- What Should Cholesterol Levels Be After Heart Attack?
- Can Gallbladder Problems Cause Blood Clots?
- Do Women Have Different Heart Attack Symptoms?
- Will My Diet Slip Increase the Risk of Heart Attack?
Medications & Supplements
Prevention & Wellness

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
American Heart Association. 2015. "What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents?"
<http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300338.pdf>