Are You At Risk For A Blood Clot? | Check Your PT/INR | $35 Blood Test Store
6) Check your own PT/INR levels. This blood test is important to your healthcare wellness check, because it checks the coagulation factor for patients taking blood thinner medication, such as, Coumadin or Warfarin. It tests how thin or how thick your blood serum may be. The prothrombin time is one of several blood tests that evaluate whether your blood is clotting properly. Blood clotting, or coagulation, is needed to help stop bleeding. Proteins in the blood called clotting factors or coagulants help blood become sticky and clot. They change it from a liquid to a solid. As soon as you get a cut or the body starts to bleed, platelet cells in the blood collect around the bleeding area. The platelet cells and clotting factors then react to thicken the blood and stop the bleeding. Abnormalities in the blood, including deficiencies in clotting factors or platelets, can prevent blood from clotting normally and cause abnormal bleeding.
Clotting factors are usually produced by the liver. Prothrombin is one type of clotting factor. When bleeding occurs somewhere in the body, prothrombin quickly changes to thrombin. The prothrombin time test measures how quickly prothrombin changes to thrombin to stop the bleeding. If the prothrombin doesn't change as quickly as normal, a blood clotting disorder could be the cause.
The prothrombin time blood test can find a lack of certain coagulants if the blood does not clot normally. The prothrombin time test may be used to help diagnose inherited disorders and other conditions that may affect blood clotting.
These include:
Vitamin K deficiency
Deficiency in clotting factor I, II, V, VII, or X
Diseases of the liver
Hemophilia
Problems with the bone marrow
Von Willebrand disease
Problems with the immune system
Some types of cancer, including leukemia
Why do I need this test?
Your doctor may order this test if you show symptoms of having a bleeding disorder. These symptoms can include:
Abnormal menstrual periods in women
Nosebleeds
Bleeding that occurs more easily
Bruising that occurs more easily
Excessive bleeding
Blood in the stool
Your doctor may also order this test regularly if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin) to help make sure you are getting the right dose.
You may also need this test before you have surgery or an invasive procedure to help make sure your blood is clotting properly.
Repeat your Pre-Paid blood test as often as you would like, without your doctor's order. Know your numbers to follow your health progress. Stay informed about your health changes, particularly when taking long-term medications, or following new life style changes to improve your health. A PT/INR blood test is available for only $35.00 at www.healthcarebloodteststore.com
Your PT/INR | $35 Blood Test Store