Know Your Medication Options
When you have AFib, your risk of stroke is nearly 5 times higher than that of someone who doesn’t have the condition. So reducing your stroke risk is an important part of treating your AFib.
The most common cause of stroke is a blood clot — a solid mass of blood that clumps together and blocks the flow of blood through an artery in or leading to your brain. When you have AFib, blood clots can form in your heart and move through your body to your brain, where they can cause a stroke.
To help prevent blood clots from forming, your doctor may prescribe:
- An anticoagulant — a medication that reduces your blood’s ability to coagulate (or form clots) by interfering with the process of clot formation.
- An antiplatelet — a medication that helps to reduce the ability of your blood platelets to stick together to form a clot.
As part of your treatment plan, your doctor may also address other factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or a history of previous stroke or TIA (“mini stroke” or transient ischemic attack).
If you have been diagnosed with AFib, don’t wait. Talk to your doctor about how to help reduce your stroke risk today. Only you and your doctor can determine the treatment plan that is right for you.
