anticoagulant
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A substance or medication that prevents or slows down the coagulation (clotting) of blood. Anticoagulants are used to treat and prevent conditions caused by harmful blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke.
Usage
Anticoagulants are prescribed by doctors and require careful monitoring. They do not dissolve existing clots but prevent new ones from forming or existing ones from growing larger. - It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., an anticoagulant, several anticoagulants). - It is often followed by phrases specifying purpose or type (e.g., anticoagulant therapy, an anticoagulant medication).
Examples
- The doctor prescribed a new anticoagulant to reduce his risk of stroke.
- Patients on anticoagulants must be cautious to avoid excessive bleeding from cuts.
- Heparin and warfarin are common types of anticoagulants.
Advanced Usage
- "Oral anticoagulant": An anticoagulant medication taken by mouth, such as warfarin or dabigatran.
- She switched from injections to an oral anticoagulant.
- "Anticoagulant effect": The blood-thinning action of the medication.
- Vitamin K can counteract the anticoagulant effect of warfarin.
Variants and Related Words
- Anticoagulation (noun): The process or therapeutic state of preventing blood coagulation.
- The patient requires long-term anticoagulation.
- Anticoagulant therapy (noun phrase): Treatment using anticoagulant drugs.
- His anticoagulant therapy was closely monitored with regular blood tests.
Synonyms
- Blood thinner (common informal term)
- Antithrombotic (a broader term that includes antiplatelet drugs)
Related Phrases / Collocations
- On anticoagulants: Describing a patient who is taking such medication.
- As he is on anticoagulants, he was advised against contact sports.
- Anticoagulant medication/drug:
- The pharmacist explained the side effects of the anticoagulant drug.
Noun
- medicine that prevents or retards the clotting of blood