Coagulopathy
Coagulopathy is an impairment in the blood’s ability to clot, leading to prolonged or excessive bleeding. Some coagulopathies are primary medical conditions, but they can also be a complication of other health conditions.
Symptoms –
• Bruising that occurs for no apparent reason
• Hermathrosis (bleeding into a joint cavity)
• Haemorrhage after childbirth
• Accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity (hemothorax)
• Very heavy menstrual flow
• Loss of blood through the nose
• Anal bleeding
• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the sperm
• Livedo reticularis
• Thrombocytopenia
• Persistent involuntary and painful erection of the penis (priapism)
• Gingival bleeding
• Rheumatisms
• Bloody gums
• Joint pain and swelling
Causes –
Blood clotting requires a certain amount of platelets and clotting factors. Coagulopathy occurs due to low levels of one or more of these proteins. It also may occur when platelet levels are low.
Some genetic disorders, such as hemophilia and von Willebrand’s disease, can reduce clotting factors.
Genetic differences, deficiencies, or mutations can cause different types of coagulation disorders. Biological parents can pass down these mutations. In some cases, they can also occur after birth.
Some additional conditions that may impair blood clotting include –
• anticoagulant or blood-thinning medication
• some blood cancers, such as leukemia
• long-term use of antibiotics
• liver disease, such as cirrhosis
• infection
• vitamin K deficiency
• hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a condition in which blood vessels entangle, causing bleeding
• thrombocytopenia, low platelet count
• trauma or injury
Risk Factors –
Risk factors for some coagulopathies can include:
• blood type
• male sex (assigned at birth), in the case of hemophilia
• a family history of a coagulopathy disorder
Complications –
Complications of coagulopathy can include:
• anemia
• internal bleeding and associated complications, such as:
• shock
• hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen
• seizures
• coma or death
• blood loss
• pseudotumors, which can put pressure on the surrounding tissues
• fractures
• blood borne infections
Diagnosis –
If coagulopathy is suspected, some simple laboratory tests can help narrow down a diagnosis. Depending on the results, further testing may be needed. Initial tests may include:
• complete blood count to analyze all blood components including platelets
• peripheral blood smear, in which a blood sample is examined under a microscope to look for signs of disease or evaluate blood cell abnormalities
• prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) blood clotting tests
Treatment –
Coagulopathy treatment aims to improve the blood’s ability to clot. However, the specific treatment largely depends on the underlying cause. Therapy may include replacing the clotting factors or increasing platelet levels through transfusion.
When appropriate, your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following medications to treat coagulopathy:
• Epsilon amino caproic acid (Amicar): This medication prevents blood clots from breaking down. It may also limit bleeding in the mouth during dental procedures.
• Desmopressin acetate (DDVAP, Stimate): This medication can release the body’s blood-clotting proteins in cases of mild to moderate coagulopathy.
• Clotting factor concentrates: These concentrates replace the body’s natural clotting factors. The two types are plasma-derived factor concentrates and recombinant factor concentrates.
• Clotting medications: These medications, such as cryoprecipitate, can help manage serious bleeding.
• Oral contraceptive pills: Birth control pills may help control excessive menstrual bleeding in people with coagulopathies.
Ayurvedic Treatment
Ayurvedic medicines like Sarpagandha Ghan Vati help controls thrombosis safely and holistically. Sarpagandha helps dilate the blood vessels to reduce pressure and balances the Vata dosha to restore cardiovascular balance in the system.
This is because the herb contains numerous naturally occurring substances called alkaloids, the most prominent being Reserpine. It helps rapidly reduce heart rate and improve cardiac function by interacting with certain nerve cells in the brain and decreasing their activity.
The herbal concoction combines the key medicinal properties of two of the most revered Ayurvedic herbs, Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia Serpentina) and Vijaya (Cannabis Sativa), along with a few other herbs like Khurasani Ajwain (Hyoscyamus Niger), Jatamansi (Nardostachys Jatamansi), and Pipalimula (Piper Longum).
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