Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Winter 2014 - (Page 10)
Back
on the
Beat
A new procedure helps
prevent stroke in "A-fib"
patients who can't use
blood thinners
T
he debilitating effects of stroke often last long after
makes it harder for the heart's upper and lower chambers
the first signs appear; a survivor may face months-
to stay in sync, there's a higher chance of stroke-causing
sometimes years-of rehabilitation to relearn basic
blood clots forming. Stroke is the third-leading cause of
skills that were lost. So when some
death in the United States. Anticoagulant medications like
patients learn that the blood thin-
warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban or dabigatran can be pre-
ner they're taking to help avoid a
scribed to reduce the risk of stroke, but they expose patients
stroke may be causing more harm to their
to an increased bleeding risk and require frequent blood
bodies, it can be terrifying.
tests, monitoring and doctor visits.
Patients with atrial fibrillation, or
"A-fib," have hearts that beat irregularly
and too fast. Nearly 3 million Americans
have A-fib, and because the condition
10 Maryland's HealtH Matters
"We estimate that 20 percent of elderly A-fib patients
Mukta
Srivastava, MD
cannot use blood thinners because of a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or other complications, so they are
unprotected against stroke," says Mukta Srivastava, MD,
Join the UM UCH Heart Club, a free support group for those who want to learn more about
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Winter 2014
Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Winter 2014
Contents
A Healthy Start
From the Sidelines
A Better Chance at Beating Cancer
Back on the Beat
At a Glance
News and Events
Maryland's Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Winter 2014
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