Today is World Stroke Awareness Day, (WSD): This year's campaign is that stroke is treatable, especially if its recognised early (remember FAST) and treated as a medical emergency with thrombolysis therapy if indicated. Their video, below, emphasises this. WSD says, "Stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, … [Read more...]
Do you believe the 2 biggest myths about anticoagulants?
As we're approaching Halloween with all its myths, we thought it would be a good time to look at anticoagulant myths. Myth number 1 - anti-coagulants are blood thinners A while ago I was talking to one of my patients about the side-effects of warfarin and mentioned that some people feel cold on warfarin, but we don't know why this should be. He said to me that it is obvious, … [Read more...]
Clot risk – having surgery
This Medical Monday series is about risk factors for venous thromboembolism, VTE (pulmonary embolism and DVT). The post 'Are you on the red or blue team?' outlines the difference between arterial and venous clots. We are going to cover Strong risk factors; being in hospital, having surgery and immobility Moderate risk factors; age (60+), a previous blood clot, family … [Read more...]
Frivolous Friday – why it doesn’t matter if you failed the OAK test!
Over the last 3 days we've covered The Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) Test © Zeolla MM, Brodeur MR, Dominelli A, Haines ST, Allie N. (Q 1-7, Q 8-14, Q 15-20 ). We mentioned that while the pass mark is 15/20 the average mark was 12/20 and 64% of people failed. If you were among those who failed, take heart at the findings from today's medical journal article which … [Read more...]
Clot risk – being in hospital
This Medical Monday series is about risk factors for venous thromboembolism, VTE (pulmonary embolism and DVT). The post 'Are you on the red or blue team?' outlines the difference between arterial and venous clots. We are going to cover Strong risk factors; being in hospital, having surgery and immobility Moderate risk factors; age (60+), a previous blood clot, family … [Read more...]
David Clotterfield Saga – scene 5
David Clotterfield and Clara Clearvessel are both on warfarin and as we follow their saga we'll discover their beliefs about anticoagulation through the various comments they make about their lives. At the end of each scene, you'll get a chance to test your knowledge; Are their comments true or false? Before reading this episode, you may like to catch up with the previous … [Read more...]
Top three items for World Thrombosis Day
As it's World Thrombosis Day today, would you be happy to share your knowledge of venous thrombo-embolism with others? These are the things the organisation wants people to know ... 1. Risk of having a blood clot Strong Risk being in hospital having surgery immobility (bed rest, long-distance travel) Moderate Risk age (60+) … [Read more...]
Why you should dress in red and blue tomorrow
Tomorrow is World Thrombosis Day and is our chance to educate friends and family about deadly blood clots. We suggest you dress in red and blue hoping to catch people's attention, then when they comment about your clothes, you can talk about blood clots, both red (stroke and heart attack) and blue (DVT and pulmonary embolus). Paul does this every year, but as his clothes … [Read more...]
Warfarin History 5 – suicide and the president
Like the plot of a movie... Warfarin has been used as a medication for more than 60 years. The discovery of Warfarin is interesting and sounds a bit like the plot of a movie; it includes a president, dead cattle, an attempted suicide and rat poison. Like many scientific discoveries of the last century it involved some serendipity, good fortune, the correct … [Read more...]
Warfarin History 4 – rat poison
Like the plot of a movie... Warfarin has been used as a medication for more than 60 years. The discovery of Warfarin is interesting and sounds a bit like the plot of a movie; it includes a president, dead cattle, an attempted suicide and rat poison. Like many scientific discoveries of the last century it involved some serendipity, good fortune, the correct … [Read more...]
