A person should also speak with a doctor or access online support if they have concerns that they or someone they know may have AUD. According to the above review, daily drinking of significant amounts of alcohol can increase platelet aggregation and reactivity, meaning it may increase the risk of blood clots. If you do drink alcohol while on blood thinners, do so in moderation.
- Understanding the relationship between alcohol and blood clotting is crucial for individuals who are concerned about their cardiovascular health.
- It will intensify the blood thinner’s effects and will make it difficult to clot if you injure yourself.
- By exploring the nuances of how alcohol impacts blood clotting, you can better manage your health and make choices that align with your well-being.
- She provides leadership support to Outreach, Marketing, Admissions and Discharge teams.
Moderate Alcohol Use and Reduced Heart Disease Risk
- Alcohol consumption has been a topic of interest when it comes to its potential effects on blood thinning.
- I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober.
- After new platelets are made in your bone marrow, they live in your body for about 7-10 days.
- If you’ve ever noticed that you get more serious bruises when you bump into things while drinking compared to when you aren’t drinking, this is probably why.
- For example, a blood clot can form elsewhere in the body and travel to the heart, lungs, or brain.
We understand the financial aspects of therapy and work to make services accessible, guiding families through insurance options such as Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Reach out for a mental health assessment and discover how we can support your teen’s path to recovery and well-being. Even just being concerned that you might have an addiction can be an early warning sign either than you have an addiction, or that you are vulnerable to potentially developing one. It’s reasonable to be worried about drinking if you notice that you’re drinking more, drinking higher alcohol-content beverages, or feeling restless when you aren’t drinking. When blood cannot clot effectively, even minor injuries can lead to excessive bleeding.
Alcohol Usage and Blood Thinning
- By inhibiting the clotting process, blood thinners help maintain a healthy blood flow throughout the body.
- If you or someone you know is drinking alcohol, despite being on blood thinners and finding it difficult to stop on your own, speak to your doctor.
- This is known as an anticoagulant which is basically a medicine that targets the clotting of your blood.
However, people should not consume alcohol instead of taking medications as a healthcare professional has prescribed. Additionally, a person should discuss whether they are able to consume alcohol while taking blood thinners, as alcohol may interact with some medications and lead to side effects. Excessive alcohol consumption can also have a paradoxical effect on the cardiovascular system. While moderate amounts may protect against some heart and blood vessel diseases, too much can increase your blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. The alcohol content in your blood, or blood alcohol concentration (BAC), can affect your body in numerous ways.
Key steps people can take to reduce the likelihood of alcohol-related harm
Recovery is possible with the right support, resources, and commitment to making positive changes. Drinking to excess can lead to injuries, alcohol poisoning, violence, stillbirth/miscarriage, and risky sexual acts (sex with multiple partners, unprotected sex, etc.). Unprotected sex can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, or an unintended pregnancy. If a pregnant woman continues drinking throughout her pregnancy, her baby can be born suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, which is a collection/spectrum of developmental and facial abnormalities. Platelets move through your bloodstream, throughout your entire body. About 70% travel freely while the remaining 30% stay in your spleen, where they are stored.
These are some of the earliest signs of addiction, but as you might have noticed, most of these are feelings that might not always be there when you’re starting to become addicted to alcohol. If you’ve heard that alcohol can thin your blood and are wondering if it’s true, you’re does alcohol thin blood in the right place. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, Summit Helps in Princeton Junction, NJ, is here to guide you on the path to recovery.
How To Get Help If Dealing With A Substance Abuse Disorder
On the minus side, drinking too much can lead to strokes from blood clots breaking off and traveling to the brain, hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes, high blood pressure, and even heart attacks. No, doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol on blood thinners. Doing this can increase the risk of severe bleeding due to an accident or injury. Several studies have been published that link heart health with red wine, as Mayo Clinic reports that a daily glass of red wine may have certain health benefits. Research suggests drinking alcohol may thin the blood by affecting platelets, which are the parts of blood that initiate coagulation, or clotting. It’s also important to note that heavy and chronic alcohol consumption can have more lasting effects on the blood clotting process even when not drinking.
