Heparin is an anticoagulant that prevents the formation of clots within the blood system. Physicians will prescribe heparin when you have a disease process that increases your risk of blood clots or you are undergoing a specific medical procedure that may increase your risk of develop clots. However, there are times when the use of heparin is contraindicated in your medical condition.
Bleeding Disorders
According to the British Committee for Standards in Haematology contraindications for heparin include bleeding disorders. If you already suffer from hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, Factor Deficiency or Vascular Hemostatic disorders the use of heparin as an anticoagulant is contraindicated. Heparin increases the amount of time it takes the blood to clot, affecting the clotting factors in the blood. If you already suffer from a bleeding disorder it is next to impossible to regulate the bleeding time, making the use of heparin dangerous to your health.
Severe Hypertension
According to the Material Safety Data Sheet produced by U.S. Pharmacopeia severe or uncontrollable hypertension is a significant contraindication for the use of heparin. Hypertension increases the pressure under which the blood vessels must function. With uncontrollable hypertension you increase your risk of a large bleed into any area of the body when the clotting time of your blood increases.
Recent Stroke
The British Committee for Standards in Haematology states that heparin should not be used if you recently had a stroke. Strokes can have two distinct causes. In the first case you may have suffered a clot that either formed in the cerebral arteries or traveled there from another area of the body. The clot will have cut blood, oxygen and nutrient supply off from an area of the brain. The second cause includes blood leaking into the brain tissue from a tear in a vein. In both cases the use of heparin can increase the risk of bleeding into the brain tissue when the amount of time it takes to form a clot increases.
Hypersensitivity to Heparin
You may have a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to heparin if you also have allergies to beef, pork or other animal proteins. According to U.S. Pharmacopeia you may exhibit a localized reaction at the point of injection or irritation in the gastrointestinal tract, eye or skin. Rarely you may have a severe reaction similar to anaphylaxis.
