Blood thinning medication use is becoming more prevalent among high-blood pressure Americans. A recent study compares an older blood thinning medication against some newer ones. But But doctors say that these new drugs are as effective as the most common blood thinner.

Anticoagulants, better known as blood thinners, prevent certain proteins from clotting. MD, assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and attending cardiologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, Ronald Wharton said, "Clotting is a very important thing. The problem is, sometimes we have to stop it or reduce the blood's ability to clot."

The study says that there will always be a risk with blood thinners. A blood thinner is meant to keep the blood from clotting as a preventative for a stroke. But blood thinners can also be dangerous when a wound is open. Without the blood being able to clot it can be difficult for a wound to heal. These new drugs wear off sooner than the commonly used blood thinner making an open wound less of an ordeal. If a bleeding problem occurs with the currently common blood thinner patient, doctors will use a solution that will help thicken the blood.

The new drugs also don't require the commonly used blood thinner weekly or monthly blood test. The study says that the blood work is to make sure the medication is working properly. Tests are done to check Vitamin K consumption.

Vitamin K, a vitamin found in leafy greens, is used can be used to clot up patient's blood. If the patient consumes too much Vitamin K, this may cause the medication not to be beneficial. Also, blood thinners and mixed with other drugs may affect the effectiveness of the blood thinners. Additionally, the study says that the medication can prevent the drug from thinning the blood or cause the medication to work too well. Although the new blood thinner users should be careful with other medication, it is the patients on the older blood thinner who have a longer list of drugs to avoid.

Doctors suggest those with kidney failure, mechanical heart valves and current successful blood thinner users should maintain their current course.

High-blood pressure if untreated can lead to health problems such as heart disease. CDC estimates that 610,000 Americans or 1 in every 4 U.S. deaths are a result of heart diesease. This makes heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States.

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