A large study has shown that patients who develop a common arrhythmia post-operatively have a four-fold increased risk of ischemic stroke, the type caused by an arterial blockage. In these cases, the likely cause is a blood clot known as an embolus, which forms in the heart and moves to a cerebral artery.
anticoagulation
A new study shows that, despite ongoing educational efforts, doctors caring for patients with vein leg clots fail a significant fraction of the time to prescribe clot-dissolving anticoagulants (blood thinners) to vulnerable patients.
Atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a common irregularity of the heartbeat (arrhythmia), has been shown to be a major cause of strokes. Now even silent strokes are linked to this condition. Blood thinning is a necessity to prevent them.
A new study shows a significant benefit in prevention of recurrent venous clots among aspirin users. If confirmed, this would be a major additional benefit for the wonder drug: aspirin!