When blood is exposed to air, it clots. Heparin allows the blood to come in direct contact with air without clotting.
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Vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate) should be taken before any drug administration. Patients should be informed not to use tobacco or caffeine at least 30 minutes before their appointment.
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Elderly adults are living longer, and causes of death are shifting. At the same time, autopsy rates are at or near their lowest in history.
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During pregnancy, a woman is more likely to experience bleeding gums and nosebleeds caused by hormonal changes that increase blood flow to the mouth and nose.
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About 3% of all pregnant women will give birth to twins, which is an increase in rate of nearly 60% since the early 1980s.
