Atrial Fibrillation

Has your heart ever skipped a beat? If so, you might have atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Afib affects more than 3 million in the U.S. If untreated, AFib can cause blood clots, and lead to stroke and heart failure. Talk to your doctor about Afib.

Stroke risk with atrial fibrillation :

Atrial Fibrillation, also known as AFib, is the most common type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. An estimated 5 million Americans are currently living with AFib, and it becomes more common with age. AFib significantly increases a person’s risk of stroke, so it’s important to recognize its signs and symptoms and to seek treatment to reduce risk. However, it’s important to keep in mind that some people with AFib never experience symptoms, and are diagnosed when a health care professional detects an irregular heartbeat during a routine exam or during a visit for another health condition.

Stroke risk from Atrial Fibrillation :

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) affects the way blood flows through the heart and makes it vulnerable for forming clots, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. The risk of stroke in a person with AFib is 500% higher than in someone without the disease, so treatment to reduce stroke risk is essential. Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners, can help reduce the risk of stroke. Fatal bleeding while on an anticoagulant is rare, and for most AFib patients, the benefit of preventing AFib caused strokes outweighs the increased risk of bleeding.