Posted by Terry Gann on January 07, 2004 at 17:37:25:
In Reply to: Scared but thanks!! posted by Suzi on January 07, 2004 at 05:56:45:
Suzi,
The risk for stroke for someone with a-fib doesn't come from having the traditional "risk factors" one associates with strokes, but from the a-fib itself - the upper chambers of the heart don't beat fully like they should causing blood to accumulate and a stroke is more likely to happen. It sounds as if you haven't had much trouble with a-fib; for you, it may be easily treatable with beta-blockers. I wouldn't be scared for my life if I were you - many of us have spent much time in a-fib and are still around! If you start having more occurences, the Doctor can prescribe a blood thinner or you can take aspirin on a regular basis to prevent any strokes associated with a-fib. Hope this helps.Terry