| tart --> | | | | warfarin. Serious bleeding in your stomach and |
| Many heart patients are routinely placed on | | | | intestines can result when you combine warfarin |
| anti-coagulants. Anti-coagulants help keep blood | | | | and these drugs.o Watch what you eat and drink. |
| thin and flowing freely through veins and arteries; | | | | This may be the most surprising consideration for |
| decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. | | | | patients who take warfarin. Many patients have |
| Heart patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), in | | | | no idea that their diet can significantly affect how |
| particular, are advised to take anti-coagulants. | | | | warfarin works for them. |
| Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of | | | | Dietary Concerns for Patients of Warfarin |
| persistent, irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia). | | | | Warfarin can be seriously affected by the amount |
| In atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers | | | | of vitamin K in your diet. And, vitamin K is in |
| beat irregularly, affecting blood flow to the heart | | | | many of the foods that we eat in large amounts, |
| muscle and to the rest of the body. It increases | | | | including the following:o livero broccolio brussels |
| the patient's risk of blood clots, which can cause | | | | sproutso spinacho Swiss chardo Coriandero |
| strokes and what is known as TIA (transient | | | | Collardso Cabbageo other green leafy vegetables |
| ischemic attack). TIA is what most people refer | | | | Even green tea, which has received rave reviews |
| to as a "mini-stroke", in which the patient suffers | | | | lately for its health benefits, can have a negative |
| the effects of a stroke, but only for the short | | | | interaction with warfarin because of its vitamin K |
| term. | | | | level. This is important for patients to understand, |
| For patients with AF, the heart beat may return | | | | because many people have begun to drink green |
| to normal on its own, or the doctor may use | | | | tea for its health benefits, particularly for those |
| electrical shock to get the heart back into its | | | | with heart problems. |
| normal rhythm. Some patients, however, do not | | | | The reason that green tea has been |
| respond to this therapy, and require | | | | recommended for heart patients is because it has |
| anti-coagulants to prevent stroke and other | | | | been shown to be effective in lowering LDL |
| complications. In addition to AF, other heart | | | | cholesterol (the bad cholesterol that clogs our |
| problems may also require treatment with | | | | arteries). In addition, green tea inhibits the |
| anti-coagulants. | | | | formation of abnormal blood clots, which are the |
| Some doctors prescribe an aspirin each day for | | | | leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. So, |
| its blood thinning and anti-coagulant effects, but | | | | we have begun to think of green tea as a healthy |
| some patients require something stronger than | | | | beverage for people who have heart disease or |
| the simple aspirin. For these patients, there are | | | | may be genetically predisposed to heart disease. |
| many prescription anti-coagulants and blood | | | | However, we now know that those heart |
| thinners from which doctors choose. | | | | patients who are taking warfarin for its |
| Anti-coagulants do have side effects; the most | | | | anti-coagulation benefits should not drink green tea |
| prevalent of which is the inability of your blood to | | | | - or at least should not do so without permission |
| properly clot in the event of surgery, or other | | | | from their doctor. |
| bleeding. It is, therefore, very important to inform | | | | One compelling piece of information was |
| your doctors that you are on anti-coagulants, and | | | | discovered by the Department of Pharmacy |
| to stop taking them before you have surgery. In | | | | Practice at the University of Florida. One patient |
| addition, anti-coagulants may interact negatively | | | | receiving warfarin after having a mechanical valve |
| with other medications and cause complications. | | | | replacement in his aorta, was progressing well |
| The most common anti-coagulant is warfarin, also | | | | with the warfarin treatment. However, his body's |
| known as coumadin. If your doctor prescribes | | | | absorption of the drug suddenly changed. |
| warfarin, you should carefully follow all the | | | | Within one week, the patient's absorption of the |
| recommendations that go along with warfarin, | | | | warfarin dropped dramatically. Upon examination |
| including having a thorough understanding of all the | | | | of the patient's diet, it was discovered that he |
| interactions. The most important things you should | | | | had recently begun to drink about one half to one |
| know about warfarin include:o You should not | | | | gallon of green tea per day. Once the patient |
| become pregnant while taking warfarin. Be certain | | | | stopped drinking the green tea, his absorption of |
| that you're using a reliable form of birth control | | | | the warfarin began to return to normal. |
| while taking this medicine. If you become pregnant | | | | Many people do not recognize that green tea is a |
| while taking this medicine, let your doctor know | | | | significant source of vitamin K, so even if patients |
| immediately. Warfarin can cause birth defects.o | | | | have been advised to avoid foods rich in vitamin |
| You must temporarily stop taking warfarin if you | | | | K, they may not realize that green tea falls into |
| require any sort of surgery, including a spinal tap.o | | | | this category. |
| Do not take warfarin in combination with aspirin or | | | | So, if you're a heart patient, be sure to talk to |
| NSAIDs, (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) | | | | your doctor about green tea. Green tea contains |
| unless your doctor advises you that it's ok. | | | | many healthful benefits, and can be particularly |
| NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, and | | | | healthy for heart patients. However, if you're a |
| diclofenac. Even our very common over the | | | | heart patient who has been prescribed warfarin, |
| counter pain relievers like motrin and advil are | | | | green tea could significantly reduce the absorption |
| ibuprofen, and can cause serious interactions with | | | | of your medication. |