You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
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An implanted device may be an option for some people who cannot take an anticoagulant.
Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent blood clots. Blood clots can lead to stroke. These medicines are often called blood thinners, but they don't actually thin your blood. Instead, they increase the time it takes for a blood clot to form.
Anticoagulants used for atrial fibrillation are apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and warfarin.
Atrial fibrillation increases your risk of stroke. Taking an anticoagulant can reduce that risk.
The risk of stroke isn't the same for everyone who has atrial fibrillation. But on average, people who have atrial fibrillation are 5 times more likely to have a stroke than people who don't have atrial fibrillation.
Anticoagulants can help protect against stroke. Your doctor may recommend that you take an anticoagulant if you are at high risk for stroke based on your risk factors.
Your doctor can check your risk of a stroke. Things that can raise your risk include:
When you take an anticoagulant, your blood clots more slowly than normal. This increases your risk of bleeding problems in and around the brain, bleeding in the stomach and intestines, bruising and bleeding if you are hurt, and serious skin rash.
Some people can't take anticoagulants, because they have a higher risk of having a serious problem if bleeding occurs. For example, you may have a higher risk of bleeding if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, have kidney or liver disease, or drink large amounts of alcohol.
When you take an anticoagulant, also called a blood thinner, you need to take extra steps to avoid bleeding problems, such as preventing falls and injuries. With the anticoagulant warfarin, you also need to have regular blood tests to make sure you are taking the right dose. And you need to watch how much vitamin K you eat or drink.
You will want to weigh the benefits of reducing your risk of stroke against the risks of taking an anticoagulant, such as an increased risk of bleeding. For example, each year about 1 to 3 out of 100 people (or 10 to 30 out of 1,000 people) who take an anticoagulant will have a problem with severe bleeding. This means that 97 to 99 out of 100 people (or 970 to 990 out of 1,000 people) will not have a bleeding problem.
Anticoagulants lower the risk of stroke in people who have atrial fibrillation. But how much your risk will be lowered depends on how high your risk was to start with. Not everyone with atrial fibrillation has the same risk of stroke. It's a good idea to talk with your doctor about your risk.
If you have a low risk of stroke, you can choose to not take an anticoagulant.
A device may be implanted to lower the risk of stroke. Doctors call the device a left atrial appendage closure device. The device can prevent blood clots from moving out of the heart and causing a stroke. The device is placed inside of the heart with a procedure that uses catheters in blood vessels.
This device is not right for everyone. It might be used for a person who cannot take an anticoagulant. There is a chance of harm from the procedure and the device, including bleeding and blood clots. You and your doctor can decide if the device is right for you.
Your doctor may advise you to take an anticoagulant if:
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What is usually involved? |
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What are the benefits? |
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What are the risks and side effects? |
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These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
I have other risk factors for stroke besides atrial fibrillation. My doctor and I decided that it is important for me to take an anticoagulant to help reduce my risk for having a stroke.
Monty, age 72
My doctor says I'm healthy and that my stroke risk is low. I don't want to take an anticoagulant now. In the future, if my risk gets higher, I can decide to take one then.
Juan, age 67
I am not overly concerned about bleeding problems from taking a blood thinner, and I'm motivated to follow the instructions to take it as directed.
Martha, age 64
I have a bleeding ulcer that I am caring for, so I can't take an anticoagulant.
Geraldo, age 52
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to take an anticoagulant
Reasons not to take an anticoagulant
I worry about my risk of stroke.
My risk of stroke is low.
I'm confident that I can take an anticoagulant as directed.
I'm worried that I can't take an anticoagulant as directed.
Lowering my risk of stroke is more important to me than the risk of a bleeding problem.
I'm more worried about my risk of a bleeding problem than my risk of stroke.
My other important reasons:
My other important reasons:
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Taking an anticoagulant
NOT taking an anticoagulant
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
Author | Healthwise Staff |
---|---|
Primary Medical Reviewer | Rakesh K. Pai MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology |
Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | John M. Miller MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Steven J. Atlas MD, MPH - Internal Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine |
An implanted device may be an option for some people who cannot take an anticoagulant.
Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent blood clots. Blood clots can lead to stroke. These medicines are often called blood thinners, but they don't actually thin your blood. Instead, they increase the time it takes for a blood clot to form.
Anticoagulants used for atrial fibrillation are apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and warfarin.
Atrial fibrillation increases your risk of stroke. Taking an anticoagulant can reduce that risk.
The risk of stroke isn't the same for everyone who has atrial fibrillation. But on average, people who have atrial fibrillation are 5 times more likely to have a stroke than people who don't have atrial fibrillation.
Anticoagulants can help protect against stroke. Your doctor may recommend that you take an anticoagulant if you are at high risk for stroke based on your risk factors.
Your doctor can check your risk of a stroke. Things that can raise your risk include:
When you take an anticoagulant, your blood clots more slowly than normal. This increases your risk of bleeding problems in and around the brain, bleeding in the stomach and intestines, bruising and bleeding if you are hurt, and serious skin rash.
Some people can't take anticoagulants, because they have a higher risk of having a serious problem if bleeding occurs. For example, you may have a higher risk of bleeding if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, have kidney or liver disease, or drink large amounts of alcohol.
When you take an anticoagulant, also called a blood thinner, you need to take extra steps to avoid bleeding problems, such as preventing falls and injuries. With the anticoagulant warfarin, you also need to have regular blood tests to make sure you are taking the right dose. And you need to watch how much vitamin K you eat or drink.
You will want to weigh the benefits of reducing your risk of stroke against the risks of taking an anticoagulant, such as an increased risk of bleeding. For example, each year about 1 to 3 out of 100 people (or 10 to 30 out of 1,000 people) who take an anticoagulant will have a problem with severe bleeding. This means that 97 to 99 out of 100 people (or 970 to 990 out of 1,000 people) will not have a bleeding problem.
Anticoagulants lower the risk of stroke in people who have atrial fibrillation. But how much your risk will be lowered depends on how high your risk was to start with. Not everyone with atrial fibrillation has the same risk of stroke. It's a good idea to talk with your doctor about your risk.
If you have a low risk of stroke, you can choose to not take an anticoagulant.
A device may be implanted to lower the risk of stroke. Doctors call the device a left atrial appendage closure device. The device can prevent blood clots from moving out of the heart and causing a stroke. The device is placed inside of the heart with a procedure that uses catheters in blood vessels.
This device is not right for everyone. It might be used for a person who cannot take an anticoagulant. There is a chance of harm from the procedure and the device, including bleeding and blood clots. You and your doctor can decide if the device is right for you.
Your doctor may advise you to take an anticoagulant if:
Take an anticoagulant to reduce the risk of stroke | Don't take an anticoagulant | |
---|---|---|
What is usually involved? |
|
|
What are the benefits? |
|
|
What are the risks and side effects? |
|
|
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"I have other risk factors for stroke besides atrial fibrillation. My doctor and I decided that it is important for me to take an anticoagulant to help reduce my risk for having a stroke."
— Monty, age 72
"My doctor says I'm healthy and that my stroke risk is low. I don't want to take an anticoagulant now. In the future, if my risk gets higher, I can decide to take one then."
— Juan, age 67
"I am not overly concerned about bleeding problems from taking a blood thinner, and I'm motivated to follow the instructions to take it as directed."
— Martha, age 64
"I have a bleeding ulcer that I am caring for, so I can't take an anticoagulant."
— Geraldo, age 52
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to take an anticoagulant
Reasons not to take an anticoagulant
I worry about my risk of stroke.
My risk of stroke is low.
I'm confident that I can take an anticoagulant as directed.
I'm worried that I can't take an anticoagulant as directed.
Lowering my risk of stroke is more important to me than the risk of a bleeding problem.
I'm more worried about my risk of a bleeding problem than my risk of stroke.
My other important reasons:
My other important reasons:
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Taking an anticoagulant
NOT taking an anticoagulant
1. If you have atrial fibrillation, are you at higher risk of stroke than someone who doesn't have it?
2. Are anticoagulants safe for everyone to take?
1. Do you understand the options available to you?
2. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?
3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?
1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
2. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
By | Healthwise Staff |
---|---|
Primary Medical Reviewer | Rakesh K. Pai MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology |
Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | John M. Miller MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Steven J. Atlas MD, MPH - Internal Medicine |
Primary Medical Reviewer | Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine |
Current as of: September 7, 2022
Author:
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