For those patients who have atrial fibrillation or
some other health concern that necessitates taking Coumadin, we at
Northpointe offer our own Coumadin Clinic. Coumadin is an anticoagulant; a
substance that hinders the clotting of blood. This medication is not
necessary for most of the population, but for a select few, they may require
it on a daily basis. You may need to take it if you have atrial
fibrillation (a certain type of irregular heart beat), a mechanical valve
replacement, if you have a history of a stroke or TIA ("mini-stroke") or
have had a blood clots in the past. Not everyone is a candidate for
Coumadin, so it is best to consult with your physician to evaluate if
Coumadin is necessary for you.
Coumadin is a medication that can be affected by many different medications,
foods, and supplements. Antibiotics and steroids in particular, are two
different classes of medications that can affect Coumadin. Also, foods high
in the vitamin K (particularly leafy green vegetables) and supplements may
affect the way Coumadin is absorbed in your body. It is important to get
your blood monitored frequently while on Coumadin, as often as weekly may be
necessary.
Northpointe Heart Center Coumadin Clinic is run by Registered Nurses,
overseen by our physicians, that monitor our patients' Coumadin levels. Our
Coumadin Clinic uses a finger-stick method to obtain a blood specimen rather
than a venous draw method (blood that is drawn from a vein in the arm). A
finger-stick constitutes a small drop of blood that is extracted and placed
on a special machine that within seconds computes a Protime/INR result (the
measurement used to tell the amount of Coumadin that is in your system).
We offer this service by appointment only and to patients seen by
Northpointe Cardiologists.
