Stroke risk atrial fibrillation
Common Questions and Answers about Stroke risk atrial fibrillation
stroke
The most important modifiable risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation. Other modifiable risk factors include high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, cigarette smoking[17][18] (active and passive), heavy alcohol consumption and drug use, lack of physical activity, obesity and unhealthy diet.
Aspirin or coumadin are for clots, (Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) recommended coumadin for atrial fibrillation patients at high risk of stroke, aspirin for patients at low risk of stroke, and either drug of patients with an intermediate risk. The ACCP defines a low-risk patient as younger than 65 years with no predisposing risk factors (e.g., previous stroke, TIA, embolism, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes).
Atrial fibrillation is linked to an increased risk of stroke. The most common mechanism is sluggish blood flow in the atria which then leads to the formation of blood clots. These blood clots form in the atria and can migrate from the heart to the brain to cause a stroke. There are five major predictors of stroke in patients with AFib.
re having some trouble with your atrial fibrillation. If you have intermittent atrial fibrillation and your heart rate and blood pressure are normal, you don't need to rush to the ED. The '48 hours' people discuss is the window period that is often used to determine whether a patient can safely be "cardioverted" or knocked into a normal rhythm, either with drugs or with an electric shock.
The best treatment would be to correct the A-fib with digoxin or another specific anti-dysrrythmic or a pacemaker, but if this is not possible, prevention of blood clots is essential because, even a tiny one can cause a pulmonary embolism (clot in the lung) or a stroke. In atrial fibrillation the top chambers of the heart just quiver, while the bottom chambers (ventricles) keep beating, but in an irregular manner.
Mayo Clinic provides the following information and is one of a few medical centers in the United States that performs the maze procedure, a highly complex surgical treatment option for atrial fibrillation. Mayo Clinic heart surgeons are highly skilled and have years of experience with this technique.
The maze procedure can cure atrial fibrillation by creating barriers to the electrical pathways, in the form of scar tissue, in the atria (the heart's upper chambers).
As far as I can tell, your husband is a healthy 49 year old with occasional short runs of atrial fib - what we call paroxysmal + lone atrial fibrillation. Usually there is very low risk of cardiovascular risk such as a stroke in this population; however, it should not be completely ignored.
I recommend at least an echocardiogram to confrim heart muscle and valve function (if not already done), AND a holter monitor to confirm his "afib burden", ie.
Left sided ablation like atrial fibrillation or left ventricular tachycardia carry a risk of about 1%. Ask your doctor what the risk is for your specific type of ablation. It would be easier to answer if knew what type of ablation.
After a (small) stroke conjectured to have been caused by atrial febrillation (accompanied by a heart rate of 160 (3x her normal rate)), my wife had a pacemaker implanted and is now on coumidin, digoxin, and metoprolol. In a brief phone conversation with her doctor, she asked how long she'd be on the coumidin. He responded, "forever.
•Your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner if you have had a heart valve replaced or if you have atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeats of the upper chamber), phlebitis (leg vessel blood clots) , congestive heart failure (failure of the heart to mmet the supply demand for oxygenated blood) , or, in some cases, if you are obese.
I should mention that it doesn't matter that you are now in normal sinus ryhthm with sotalol. You now have an increased risk of stroke. Once you have had afib, even once, the risk becomes significant and can't be ignored.
From the journal of atrial fibrillation:
"The risk of stroke increases whether the lone atrial fibrillation was an isolated episode, recurrent, or chronic.
My boyfriend was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 5 years ago. He is 58 years old now. Three weeks ago he suffered a stroke after becoming lax on his coumdin medication. He has no lasting effects from his stroke. During his hospital stay he had been experiencing serious bouts of anxiety which I have read is pretty common. This past Thursday he was hospitilized with swelling in his legs, stomach and hands. He hasalso been extremely nauseous.
i have atrial fibrillation and chf my doc want to put a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in me and was wondering if thats a life time thing or can i get mt heart stringer and not need it any more ?
Actually, the risk of stroke is not highest while being in atrial fibrillation, but when converting to sinus rhythm (naturally or by cardioversion). When the left atrium is not beating (during a-fib), the clots usually just stay where they are, but when the atria are beating again, clots may break off the walls and follow the blood stream. Risk of clots increase after 48 hours of untreated a-fib, which is why you need 3 (4 in Norway) weeks on anticoagulants before cardioversion.
probably medication is the go for you. my mother has atrial fibrillation and she takes atenol and it works excellent. doesn't control the rhythm, but controls the speed and her high blood pressure well.
I recently went into chronic atrial fibrillation when I went into congestive heart failure due to the break down of my mitral valve. It has since been repaired. During surgery the surgeon used the modified maze procedure and cardio version but I am still in atrial fibrillation. I am now on Amiodarone in preparation for another cardio version. My cardiologist thinks I will always be in atrial fibrillation due to the size of my atrium. My question is this.
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