Guide To Managing Factor V Leiden

Factor V Leiden is a mutation of the genes that causes impairment to the normal process of blood clotting. In a healthy individual who is bleeding, platelets and clotting factors or specific proteins form a clot to stop the bleeding. When the bleeding stops, different proteins tell the clotting factors to break apart so the clot can dissipate. With factor V Leiden, the impairment lies within the process that is supposed to occur when it is time for the clotting factors to break up. This impairment can lead to the excess blood clots breaking free and flowing throughout the bloodstream. Depending on where the blood clots travel to, they can cause life-threatening or minor problems. For example, when a blood clot moves into the brain and blocks blood flow, a stroke may occur. Although there is no cure for factor V Leiden, there are several ways to manage it.

Course Of Blood-Thinning Medication

When a blood clot has been discovered in an individual who has factor V Leiden, they may be prescribed a course of blood-thinning medication to keep it from resulting in life-threatening conditions. The use of these medications in an individual with this condition can lower the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, and other dangerous complications. While blood thinners do not actually thin the blood, they do stop blood clots from becoming worse. Blood thinners also prevent new blood clots from forming. There are two main types of blood-thinning medications: anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Anticoagulants work by expanding the amount of time it takes for the blood to clot. Antiplatelets work by stopping the platelets in the blood from sticking to each other and other tissues. By halting the clotting process before it really begins, these medications can eliminate the complications associated with factor V Leiden affected clot breakup process. Individuals with factor V Leiden will most likely not be on blood thinners for the long term, but they will take a course of them when a clot has been detected.

Keep reading to reveal more options for treating factor V Leiden now.