“Thin blood” means blood with a
decreased coagulation (clotting) ability.
“Thick blood” would mean the opposite
– blood with an increased coagulation
ability. INR is one of the parameters that
is used to measure blood’s coagulation
ability. In healthy people INR should be
0.8-1.2. INR under 0.8 means increased
coagulation ability (“thicker” blood)
and a greater risk for blood clotting
(thrombosis). INR above 1.2 means
decreased coagulation ability
(“thinner” blood) and a greater risk
for bleeding.
People that suffer from atherosclerosis
have a greater risk for developing
thrombosis in their heart or brain
arteries which leads to a heart attack or
stroke. Such people should take medicines
that will decrease the blood’s
coagulation ability and keep the INR above
1.2. (2-3 is recommended range for INR in
such patients). Aspirin and Plavix
decreases platelets’ aggregation ability
and thus prevents thrombosis. There are
stronger blood “thinners” like
warfarin that suppress the production of
some coagulation factors in the liver.
A brain stroke can also be due to bleeding
inside the brain. If bleeding was caused
by your mother’s stroke, blood
“thinners” should not be given.
Any anti-coagulation (blood thinning)
therapy should be prescribed and monitored
by a transfusiologist and neurologist.
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