Atrial Fibrillation and Your Risk of Stroke

Featuring Dr. Paul Dorian, MD, CM, MSc., Cardiologist

Duration: 1 minute, 34 seconds

A second chapter in the atrial fibrillation story has nothing to do with how people feel in atrial fibrillation. It’s unrelated to whether you have palpitations or breathlessness or you don’t. It’s unrelated to how much atrial fibrillation you have, and this is the risk of stroke.

It is believed that one of the consequences of atrial fibrillation is the possibility of clots forming in the heart, which can then go to the brain and cause stroke. All predisposed individuals, these are people with atrial fibrillation, usually aged over 65, or who have any of diabetes, or hypertension, or a weak heart muscle, or a prior stroke. These individuals are at risk for stroke.

It’s very important to remember that you can be at risk for stroke, even if you’re feeling perfectly well, despite atrial fibrillation. It’s important to talk to your doctor about your individual risk of stroke, and about the kinds of treatments which are available to prevent stroke, and they’re generally pretty safe, and they’re not difficult to take, and they’re very important to understand.

If you have atrial fibrillation and you don’t feel well, or you need more information, or you’re not completely satisfied with your treatment, speak to your family doctor. If needed, ask to be sent to a cardiologist who has expertise in atrial fibrillation, and get yourself as well informed as possible about this condition, so that you better understand your own body, and you can deal with the symptoms more effectively.

Presenter: Dr. Paul Dorian, Cardiologist, Toronto, ON

Local Practitioners: Cardiologist