Blood thinners reduce your risk for heart attack, stroke, and blockages in your arteries and veins by preventing clumps of blood (blood clots) from forming or growing.

There are 2 main types of blood thinners:

• Anticoagulants work on chemical reactions in your body to lengthen the time it takes to form a blood clot. Decreased clotting keeps fewer harmful blood clots from forming and blocking blood vessels.
• Antiplatelets are a group of medicines that stop blood cells called platelets from sticking together and forming a blood clot. Aspirin is one kind of antiplatelet therapy.