What are blood thinners?
Blood thinners are medications that make the blood less sticky, preventing new blood clots from forming and existing clots from growing. Clots are lumps of thickened blood that form when the blood hardens from liquid to solid, blocking arteries and potentially causing a heart attack or stroke.
Women who are at high risk for blood clots in the arteries (including women with PAD) may be given blood-thinning drugs to prevent clots and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and dying of heart or blood vessel disease.
Aspirin and clopidogrel (klo-PID-oh-grel, brand name Plavix) are the most commonly used blood thinners in women with PAD. Click "Next" to learn about the benefits of these medications and who should receive them.
