Does Alcohol Thin Your Blood? Risks of Alcohol and Blood Thinners

You will need to carry an anticoagulant alert card with you at all times. There are several other anticoagulants available as tablets or capsules. Anticoagulant medications target the coagulation cascade, whereas antiplatelet medications target platelet activation. Chronic alcohol use can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and illnesses. Drinking alcohol in moderation is legal for adults in the United States who are at least 21 years old. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), almost 87 percent of people in the US, ages 18 and older, drank alcohol at least once in their lives.

Food Tweaks if You Take Warfarin (Coumadin)

They’re often prescribed to people at risk of having future blood clots, rather than to treat existing ones. For example, a blood clot can form elsewhere in the body and travel to the heart, lungs, or brain. This type of blockage can lead to life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack.

Does alcohol make blood clots or risk of stroke worse?

Your body makes blood clots from red blood cells, platelets, fibrin, and white blood cells. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets keep these parts from sticking together and forming new clots. Experts suggest moderate alcohol consumption is generally safe while taking blood thinners. If you suspect alcohol misuse or experience characteristic symptoms of a blood clot, such as swelling, pain, redness and warmth in the affected area, seek professional help promptly. Never withhold information about alcohol intake from your doctor, as it impacts treatment decisions. If you are concerned about enjoying a glass of wine after taking Aspirin, continue reading to learn about the risks and safety considerations of mixing alcohol and blood thinners.

• You might be prescribed Xarelto to prevent a blood clot in a deep vein, otherwise known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT.
• Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about taking these medications together.

Understanding the Risks of Mixing Alcohol with Blood Thinners

Lastly, he obtained graduate education in public health and business administration to contribute to national healthcare reform research and implementation. It’s not recommended that you start drinking alcohol if you don’t normally. Having the restraint drinking alcohol on blood thinners to consume only moderate amounts of alcohol may be challenging for some individuals. Talk with a healthcare professional to find out which blood thinner you qualify for. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the U.S.

Are some blood thinners different than others in this regard, or is it all the same risk?

Does Alcohol Affect Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Side Effects

• But limiting them in your diet and being consistent in the portions you do eat is important.
• When it comes to the health of your blood vessels, have a conversation with your doctor.
• When it comes to protecting you from a possible devastating blood clot, your provider will let you know if a blood thinner is right for you and will talk with you about which kind is your best option.
• If you have been prescribed a blood thinner, it’s important to pay attention to signs of bleeding, like red or black colored stool, severe headache, light-headedness, and fainting.
• Alcohol is known to have blood-thinning effects, and combining it with medications that also thin the blood, such as anticoagulants, can increase the risk of bleeding complications.