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...]
Why Noah never forgets his medication
When people meet our son Noah for the first time, they usually recognise all he can’t do; you see he has Down syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome. Once you get to know him though, you quickly fall in love with his sunny personality and quick wit. You just accept that he looks different and has some odd behaviours. And we see him for what he can do. One thing he is very good … [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...]
Can you pass the OAK test? answers
If you're on warfarin you may be interested in the 20 multiple choice question OAK test (Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge test). It was developed in Maryland, US in 2006 by Zeolla. It was validated in the US and later in Malaysia, which means it is a trustworthy test for finding out how much people understand about taking warfarin. The pass score is 15 or more out of 20. You … [Read more...]
Can you pass the OAK test? part 2
If you're on warfarin you may be interested in the 20 multiple choice question OAK test (Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge test). It was developed in Maryland, US in 2006 by Zeolla. It was validated in the US and later in Malaysia, which means it is a trustworthy test for finding out how much people understand about taking warfarin. The pass score is 15 or more out of 20. You … [Read more...]
Can you pass the OAK test? 64% can’t
If you're on warfarin you may be interested in the 20 multiple choice question OAK test (Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge test). It was developed in Maryland, US in 2006 by Zeolla. It was validated in the US and later in Malaysia, which means it is a trustworthy test for finding out how much people understand about taking warfarin. The pass score is 15 or more out of 20. You … [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...]
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...]
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...]
