Afib Medications
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It is well known that patients with Atrial Fibrillation or AFib have a stroke risk at least 5 times higher than the general population!
The increased risk of stroke is in large part because blood clots can form in the left atrial appendage – a small pouch in the left atrium. If these clots dislodge, they can travel to the brain, causing strokes.
The risk of stroke is calculated using the CHADS2Vasc score. Each risk factor will get points and the more points, the higher the risk:
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Hypertension
- Age greater than 65 (1 point) or 75 (2 points)
- Diabetes
- Stroke (2 points)
- Vascular disease (peripheral artery or coronary artery disease)
If you have 2 or more points, the risk is high enough to justify stroke prevention. This can be accomplished by either using oral anticoagulants (blood thinners) or left atrial appendage closure device implantation.
Learn more about how to prevent strokes if you have Atrial Fibrillation!
Dr Jose Osorio
Miami, FL
Read more about AFib:
Improving Success Rates for Afib Ablation by Building a Learning Collaborative – Dr Jose Osorio
What are the success rates of Afib Ablation? How do physicians know the chances of success?
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