Final answer:
Anticoagulant drugs are used to thin the blood and prevent excessive blood clotting. Drugs like Coumadin and Heparin are prescribed to prevent stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases by inhibiting clotting factors in the coagulation cascade.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anticoagulants are substances that oppose coagulation, preventing blood clots from becoming larger and causing more serious problems. Some examples of anticoagulant drugs include coumadin and heparin.
These drugs are often prescribed to prevent a first or recurrent stroke, heart attack, or other forms of cardiovascular disease. They work by inhibiting the conversion of clotting factors in the coagulation cascade, thinning the blood, and reducing the risk of excessive clot formation.