A fib Stroke

[Martin32]

Just seen a journal saying that A fib stroke accounts for 15 per cent of all strokes world wide but can’t find any figures which say were theses strokes anticoagulants stokes or no meds anyone know ,thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes and 80% of the least recoverable. The figure I have always worked with was 20% .

Anticoagulation reduces stroke risk by around 70%.

Many people only find they have AF after their stroke --if they survive which is why AF Association work so hard at encouraging doctors and patients themselves to identify those people first with our regular action days and campaigns such as Know your Pulse. Approximately 1/4 million undiagnosed cases it is estimated

We know that here in UK if we managed to change the mind set of people and get all at risk people on anticogulation we could save 8000 strokes a year. UK is not very high on the good pracatise list in Europe in this respect and it does tend to vary a great deal from one part of the country to another. For example the Bradford area has one of the lowest stroke rates in the country thanks to Dr Matt Fay and his team and the work they have done to bind the various resources towards a working strategy to identify and treat those most at risk.

[Martin32 in reply to BobD]

Interesting about areas Bob as my a fib was diagnosed in Italy and was given anticoagulants that day and every doctor I saw said the same you are taking them forget any points tables but when I got back to the Uk I had a flight with my doctor to get meds but happily on then now

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Martin32]

A WISE MAN ONCE TOLD ME PATIENTS WORRY ABOUT STROKES BUT DOCTORS ABOUT BLEEDS.

[Martin32 in reply to BobD]

Clever man

[Kaz747 in reply to BobD]

A good friend’s dad had a bad stroke at 64 due to undiagnosed AF. He had just retired and bought a caravan ready to head off on a great adventure. He was in a wheelchair and his wife nursed him at home for 10 years then another stroke put him in a nursing home. He died last year aged 87. I’ve always said that I’m not scared of dying from a stroke but I don’t want to live with the consequences of a bad one.

[wilsond]

Yes I'd be interested to know if these statistics refer to non anticoagulated AFib or for unidentified and hence not protected AFib!

[Hidden]

Also in reply to Bob D as well as to you. A lot of research states that GP’s tend to overestimate the risk of bleeding and underestimate the risk of stroke in AF.

My cardiologist looked at me in disbelief when I told him my GP had said I was low risk on Chadsvasc score (I’m female & a few months short of 65yrs). He wondered Why the GP was prepared to take the risk of waiting those few months for me to attain the appropriate risk score. Fortunately another GP agreed with him & I’m on Apixaban. I was terrified whilst on no treatment, symptomatic and waiting for cardio appointment.

Daft system we have in East Sussex where Cardiologist can prescribe cardiac drugs but you have to go to GP for anticoagulants. Do other areas have this rule?

[Martin32 in reply to Hidden]

No we don’t have that in Staffordshire but if the cardiologist had said no to me my G P would have followed his advice and no anticoagulants,the funny thing is the doctors in Italy said to me (they had all worked in the u k ) you will come under pressure to stop taking anticoagulants when you go back to the Uk and they we so right ,I have a letter from the cardiologist to my G P saying going to stop all my meds ,only last week the cardiologist said to me he has given me belt and brace with meds and does not think I need to be so aggressive and if I had any bleed small or large I can stop all the anticoagulants no problem

[healme]

My stroke was a clot caused by AF and I've been on Anticoagulants ever since. Among another 7 different meds for high blood pressure, cholesteral and beta blockers etc etc.

[Martin32 in reply to healme]

Can I ask Did you know of the a fib before the stroke and hope all is well now with you

[healme in reply to Martin32]

No I wasn't aware of my A Fib until after the stroke and almost a year of further investigations. Things will never be the same. I have right sided weakness and memory issues but I was lucky that my stroke was diagnosed quickly and before there was further damage. I think if my GP had taken my previous health issues more seriously I may not have had the stroke but who knows. Hindsight is a great thing.

[plopper]

My stroke was caused by afib that I didn't know i had. I am on apixaban now, plus the rest of the pharmacy.

[Martin32]

I found out about my a fib from a medical and are having meds I just wonder how many people are in a fib and don’t know