Nutrition and Nursing Fundamentals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nutrition and Nursing Fundamentals - Assignment Example An anticoagulant is a medication taken mainly by people who experience health problems caused by blood clots in the body, such as strokes, deep vein thrombosis and other related cases as a blood thinner. It is mostly injected under the skin as it comes in a solution form. Only a health provider can administer this drug since its dosage varies with different patients. Like any other drug, this medication has its side effects. The effects are a rash or itching at the injection point, makes a patient experience dizziness, confusion and sleepiness as it affects the nervous system. Cases of low blood pressure are also extremely common in patients who are on anticoagulant medication. It is an exceptionally strong medication hence it's severe side effects that a patient has to cope with in the treatment process. They are situations where this drug can interact with some food types taken by a patient. Foods such as Kale, broccoli, spinach and tulip greens which are recommended by nutritionists as good blood-boosting supplements in a diet contain vitamin K. This vitamin reduces the effectiveness of anticoagulants as it produces blood- clotting substances. Therefore, in this case, the interaction of the drug and the food may have negative impacts on a patient. A patient is advised to avoid foods containing vitamin K as well as vitamin E as they prolong clotting time. From this research, it is clear that food and drug interactions can have negative impacts on the health of a patient. Therefore, medical practitioners should give advice to patients on what foods to avoid when on medication. This would create awareness to patients since many of them take drugs with foods that interact. This poses them to severe health related issues even when on  medication.