Heart problems can be difficult to treat and your doctor is your best resource for information. Many senior citizens experience problems with an abnormal or irregular heart beat that can cause fainting, fluttering or palpitations in the chest or sometimes pain. This condition is called atrial fibrillation.
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?The atrium is a chamber in the upper part of the heart that is divided into right and left sides by a thin wall or partition. The left atrium collects blood coming from the lungs and sends it to the pumping chamber or left ventricle of the heart. The blood is then pumped through the body and the brain.
When people have atrial fibrillation, the contractions of the left atrium are fast and weak and cannot empty the blood completely leaving some blood behind. Blood that stays in the appendage of the atrium frequently clots. Blood clots can travel from the heart to the brain and other parts of the body. A blood clot that is the same size as the blood vessel it's traveling through can completely block the artery and prevent blood from entering that part of the brain. When those parts of the brain that lie beyond the clot get reduced blood supply, damage or destruction of brain cells can occur. This describes what happens when someone suffers a stroke due to atrial fibrillation. (This is only one of many causes of strokes).
Atrial fibrillation is a fairly common condition in the senior population. Over one million Americans have atrial fibrillation and half of all patients with atrial fibrillation are over 75 years old. The incidence of stroke also increases with age. Strokes can have many different outcomes. Some patients are not disabled or may have temporary symptoms, while other patients are very seriously affected.
Can A Stroke Caused By Atrial Fibrillation Be Prevented?The good news is that the most serious consequence of atrial fibrillation, a stroke, can be prevented with certain drugs. Drugs that can be useful in stroke prevention are primarily warfarin, an anticoagulant, or blood thinning drug, and aspirin. Warfarin prevents blood from clotting and may reduce the possibility of a stroke by 70 percent. One aspirin daily has also been found helpful in preventing clot formation and may reduce the possibility of stroke by 25 percent. If you have atrial fibrillation, ask your doctor what is right for you to prevent stroke. All medications should be taken at the direction of your doctor.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Blood Thinning Drugs For Atrial Fibrillation To Prevent Strokes?