What are anticoagulants primarily prescribed for?

Anticoagulants are primarily prescribed to reduce the risk of clotting and vascular conditions, making their use crucial in preventing serious health issues such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. These medications work by inhibiting certain factors in the blood coagulation process, thereby reducing the formation of clots that could obstruct blood vessels and disrupt normal blood flow.

In contrast, promoting blood clotting is not the function of anticoagulants; rather, they are designed to prevent excessive clotting. Managing blood pressure typically involves different classes of medications, such as antihypertensives, and pain relief is handled by analgesics. Therefore, the primary goal of anticoagulants is preventive care concerning clot-related complications, affirming the validity of the selected answer.