Having once been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation does one have to stay on Warfarin after treatment for life?!
Question: Having once been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation does one have to stay on Warfarin after treatment for life.?
Answers:
hi, the answer to your question depends on the type of atrial fibrillation, generally it depends on whether your AF is paroxysmol (on and off) or whether it is permanent, it also depends on you, i.e your age and other medical conditions such as diabetes etc. The reason that an anticoagulant(like warfarin) is advocated in AF is due to the increased risk of stroke. However having AF doesnt mean you have to be on warfarin, depending on clinical prediction scores of your individual risk you may be able to go on a different drug such as aspirin which puts less constraints on your life. Otherwise, in higher risk patients warfarin is the recommended drug long term, likely for life. But remember that its your body and ask your physician to discuss how much benefit you would get from being on warfarin and make your decision from there.Health Question & Answer
Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. It is prescribed for people with certain types of irregular heartbeat, people with prosthetic (replacement or mechanical) heart valves, and people who have suffered a heart attack. Warfarin is also used to treat or prevent venous thrombosis (swelling and blood clot in a vein) and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung). Warfarin is in a class of medications called anticoagulants ('blood thinners'). It works by decreasing the clotting ability of the blood.
Atrial fibrillation is a rapid, irregularly irregular atrial rhythm. Symptoms include palpitations and sometimes weakness, dyspnea, and presyncope. Atrial thrombi often form, causing a significant risk of embolic stroke. Diagnosis is by ECG. Treatment involves rate control with drugs, prevention of thromboembolism with anticoagulation, and sometimes conversion to sinus rhythm by drugs or cardioversion.
Seek a second medical opinion.Health Question & Answer
Atrial fibrillation is a rapid, irregularly irregular atrial rhythm. Symptoms include palpitations and sometimes weakness, dyspnea, and presyncope. Atrial thrombi often form, causing a significant risk of embolic stroke. Diagnosis is by ECG. Treatment involves rate control with drugs, prevention of thromboembolism with anticoagulation, and sometimes conversion to sinus rhythm by drugs or cardioversion.
Seek a second medical opinion.Health Question & Answer
yes usually. a fib increases chances to "throw clots" b/c the atria (upper chambers of heart) quiver instead of contracting fully. this enables full evacuation of blood from chamber. left over blood clots and if the blood isn't thin enough to prevent clot from being formed, then you could have a clot that can cause heart attacks, pe or strokes. coumadin (warfarin) works on your clotting factors to thin your blood. the doctor will want you to have your blood tested periodically to see if it's thin enough. they use a lab test called PT/INR. they tend to use INR. Goal is 2-3 for results. If lower than 2 the blood is "too thick" and your warfarin dose needs increased. If higher than 3 your blood is "too thin" and the dose needs reduced. Hope this helps.Health Question & Answer