Understanding your stroke risk and what you can do about It
The impact of stroke can be serious and sometimes life-threatening. If you have atrial fibrillation (AF), your risk of having a stroke can be up to five times higher. This is because an irregular heartbeat can lead to blood clots that may travel to your brain.
AF affects over 500,000 Australians and plays a role in nearly one in 10 deaths. Getting checked and managing AF early can help lower your risk of stroke.
What is atrial fibrillation?
AF is a condition where your heart beats irregularly.
With a normal heartbeat, blood pumps through all four chambers of the heart smoothly. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat quickly and out of rhythm with the lower chambers of the heart. This means that blood does not move through the heart as it is supposed to.
When this happens, it can cause blood to pool in the heart and form a 'blood clot. And if a clot breaks away from the heart and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke.
Signs of stroke include:
If you have AF, you may get:
Some people may not experience any symptoms at all
To find out if you have AF, a doctor or nurse will check your pulse. If it feels irregular, they may send you for more tests.
How can you treat atrial fibrillation?
If you have AF, your healthcare professional will work with you to manage your condition. One treatment they might recommend is an anticoagulant medicine.
Anticoagulants are a type of medicine that helps prevent blood clots. They don't treat the irregular heartbeat directly, but they make it harder for your blood to form a clot. This helps lower your risk of having a stroke from AF.
Other treatments are needed to help with symptoms caused by AF.
Risks and benefits of taking anticoagulant medicine
Anticoagulants can sometimes cause bruising or bleeding, but they lower your risk of stroke, which can be more serious. The benefit of taking them is greater than the risk of bleeding.
Although rare, if you notice serious bruising or bleeding while taking anticoagulants, go straight to a hospital or call 000 and ask for an ambulance.
With the right treatment and regular care, including taking anticoagulants safely and as prescribed, most people with AF can continue to live well.
Why are anticoagulants important for managing atrial fibrillation?
People with AF have a higher risk of stroke. A stroke can cause serious damage to the brain with long-lasting effects.
Taking anticoagulants can help lower your risk of stroke. Your healthcare professional will talk with you about your options and help you understand how to take your anticoagulant medicine safely. They can also answer any questions you may have.
The Anticoagulants Care Plan is a helpful guide. It has more information and tips on how to talk with your health professional about taking your anticoagulant medicine safely.
If you have any questions or concerns about how this information relates to your own health, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider for advice that's right for you.
This is branded content for the Health Care Consumers' Association and is funded by the Australian Government.
The impact of stroke can be serious and sometimes life-threatening. If you have atrial fibrillation (AF), your risk of having a stroke can be up to five times higher. This is because an irregular heartbeat can lead to blood clots that may travel to your brain.
AF affects over 500,000 Australians and plays a role in nearly one in 10 deaths. Getting checked and managing AF early can help lower your risk of stroke.
What is atrial fibrillation?
AF is a condition where your heart beats irregularly.
With a normal heartbeat, blood pumps through all four chambers of the heart smoothly. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat quickly and out of rhythm with the lower chambers of the heart. This means that blood does not move through the heart as it is supposed to.
When this happens, it can cause blood to pool in the heart and form a 'blood clot. And if a clot breaks away from the heart and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke.
Signs of stroke include:
If you have AF, you may get:
Some people may not experience any symptoms at all
To find out if you have AF, a doctor or nurse will check your pulse. If it feels irregular, they may send you for more tests.
How can you treat atrial fibrillation?
If you have AF, your healthcare professional will work with you to manage your condition. One treatment they might recommend is an anticoagulant medicine.
Anticoagulants are a type of medicine that helps prevent blood clots. They don't treat the irregular heartbeat directly, but they make it harder for your blood to form a clot. This helps lower your risk of having a stroke from AF.
Other treatments are needed to help with symptoms caused by AF.
Risks and benefits of taking anticoagulant medicine
Anticoagulants can sometimes cause bruising or bleeding, but they lower your risk of stroke, which can be more serious. The benefit of taking them is greater than the risk of bleeding.
Although rare, if you notice serious bruising or bleeding while taking anticoagulants, go straight to a hospital or call 000 and ask for an ambulance.
With the right treatment and regular care, including taking anticoagulants safely and as prescribed, most people with AF can continue to live well.
Why are anticoagulants important for managing atrial fibrillation?
People with AF have a higher risk of stroke. A stroke can cause serious damage to the brain with long-lasting effects.
Taking anticoagulants can help lower your risk of stroke. Your healthcare professional will talk with you about your options and help you understand how to take your anticoagulant medicine safely. They can also answer any questions you may have.
The Anticoagulants Care Plan is a helpful guide. It has more information and tips on how to talk with your health professional about taking your anticoagulant medicine safely.
If you have any questions or concerns about how this information relates to your own health, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider for advice that's right for you.
This is branded content for the Health Care Consumers' Association and is funded by the Australian Government.
The impact of stroke can be serious and sometimes life-threatening. If you have atrial fibrillation (AF), your risk of having a stroke can be up to five times higher. This is because an irregular heartbeat can lead to blood clots that may travel to your brain.
AF affects over 500,000 Australians and plays a role in nearly one in 10 deaths. Getting checked and managing AF early can help lower your risk of stroke.
What is atrial fibrillation?
AF is a condition where your heart beats irregularly.
With a normal heartbeat, blood pumps through all four chambers of the heart smoothly. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat quickly and out of rhythm with the lower chambers of the heart. This means that blood does not move through the heart as it is supposed to.
When this happens, it can cause blood to pool in the heart and form a 'blood clot. And if a clot breaks away from the heart and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke.
Signs of stroke include:
If you have AF, you may get:
Some people may not experience any symptoms at all
To find out if you have AF, a doctor or nurse will check your pulse. If it feels irregular, they may send you for more tests.
How can you treat atrial fibrillation?
If you have AF, your healthcare professional will work with you to manage your condition. One treatment they might recommend is an anticoagulant medicine.
Anticoagulants are a type of medicine that helps prevent blood clots. They don't treat the irregular heartbeat directly, but they make it harder for your blood to form a clot. This helps lower your risk of having a stroke from AF.
Other treatments are needed to help with symptoms caused by AF.
Risks and benefits of taking anticoagulant medicine
Anticoagulants can sometimes cause bruising or bleeding, but they lower your risk of stroke, which can be more serious. The benefit of taking them is greater than the risk of bleeding.
Although rare, if you notice serious bruising or bleeding while taking anticoagulants, go straight to a hospital or call 000 and ask for an ambulance.
With the right treatment and regular care, including taking anticoagulants safely and as prescribed, most people with AF can continue to live well.
Why are anticoagulants important for managing atrial fibrillation?
People with AF have a higher risk of stroke. A stroke can cause serious damage to the brain with long-lasting effects.
Taking anticoagulants can help lower your risk of stroke. Your healthcare professional will talk with you about your options and help you understand how to take your anticoagulant medicine safely. They can also answer any questions you may have.
The Anticoagulants Care Plan is a helpful guide. It has more information and tips on how to talk with your health professional about taking your anticoagulant medicine safely.
If you have any questions or concerns about how this information relates to your own health, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider for advice that's right for you.
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