Lovenox is an anticoagulant medication called a low molecular weight heparin, which is used to treat and prevent the formation of blood clots. Low molecular weight heparin works by thinning your blood. Blood clots can form from atherosclerosis, stagnant blood flow or damage to your blood vessels. Clots can be a serious medical condition because blood flow to the affected blood vessels and tissues is cut off. Exercise, like Lovenox, is often commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots.
Lovenox
Lovenox is given intravenously or by injection for the treatment of clots caused by deep vein thrombosis and heart attack, as well as for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis and ischemic conditions associated with chest pain at rest and heart attacks. Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which a clot forms in your deep veins. It can occur from long periods of immobilization such as surgery or hospitalization, hypercoagulablity and obesity. Lovenox is usually given for eight to 17 days, depending on the condition it is being used to treat, according to the website of the drug's manufacturer.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of Lovenox are bleeding, bruising, nausea, diarrhea, low platelets, anemia and elevated serum aminotransferases.
Exercise and Lovenox
Exercise can be prescribed by your doctor in addition to Lovenox to prevent the formation of new blood clots. Exercise helps to increase circulation and prevent blood from becoming stagnant. However, this does not mean you should jump out of bed and run 5 miles. Many of the indications for Lovenox use are serious medical conditions that can result in death. You should start exercising slowly and then progress to higher intensities only after receiving permission from your doctor. During the first few days of your recovery, your doctor might have you get out of bed several times a day and walk around. If you have a deep vein thrombosis, your doctor may also prescribe simple leg exercises to increase blood flow, according to the website for Kaiser Permanente.
Studies
A study published in the journal Circulation in 2001 suggests that exercise and heparin are beneficial for myocardial ischemia. The study found that a combination of heparin and exercise resulted in an increase in blood flow to occluded coronary arteries and the diameter of occluded coronary arteries in pediatric patients with Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease causes inflammation of blood vessels and is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and aneurysm. Since Lovenox is a low molecular weight heparin, we cannot make definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of Lovenox for this condition, but it might serve as a paradigm for future studies.
Warnings
Always talk to your doctor first before beginning an exercise routine. Avoid the use of other blood thinners such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or aspirin while taking Lovenox unless directed by your doctor because it can increase your risk of bleeding. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience an increase in abnormal bleeding such as nosebleeds, heavy menstrual periods, bleeding gums or blood in your urine, swelling or pain in your leg or foot, chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heart rate, fever, rash, numbness, tingling or weakness of your arms or legs, or confusion.
