October Health News

Atrial Fibrillation – by Dr. Bud Bergstrom
> ” A. fib. ” is the most common abnormal heart rhythm. It is very
> important for two primary reasons : it significantly reduces the
> effectiveness of heart function , & more importantly , it greatly
> increases the possibility of having a stroke. Medications are
> available for treating a fib. but they are expensive & their
> effectiveness is variable. A procedure referred to as an ” ablation “,
> is another possibility, but also has variable results. To prevent a
> stroke, patients are also placed on a ” blood thinner “. Aspirin is
> helpful , but much more effective drugs are available – they are ,
> unfortunately , very expensive. Coumadin ( Warfarin ),which is very
> inexpensive, is also very effective , but does require an occasional
> very simple blood test. A routine EKG confirms the presence of a. fib.