ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. health agency is offering a video to help educate patients about blood-thinners, federal officials say.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Rockville, Md., says anticoagulant drugs, popularly known as blood-thinners, are used by nearly 2 million patients to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming. However, their use can also have serious side effects.
The video, "Staying Active and Healthy with Blood Thinners," is 10 minutes long, and covers several topics including the effect of diet and the drug. It advises to use the mnemonic B-E-S-T: Be careful. Eat right, Stick to a routine and Test regularly.
"Blood thinners are lifesaving drugs but, as we've seen time and again, they can also be very dangerous when not used safely," Dr. Carolyn Clancy of the AHRQ says in a statement. "Educating patients and their family members is key to improving the safe use of these medicines."
