You can live with AFib without blood thinners, especially if your risk of stroke is low or you're not a candidate for the blood thinners as a result of risks of bleeding.
Alternatives to blood thinners for AFib are devices like the WATCHMAN or even procedure based, non pharmacological options, which reduce your risk of stroke without medication.
Around 10 percent of people with AFib have a low enough risk of stroke, that they might not need or require blood thinners.
If you can't take blood thinners as a result of the high risk of bleeding, falls or even other medical issues, doctors may recommend other things for AFib treatment like Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Catheter Ablation.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure can be done using devices like the WATCHMAN or Amplatzer Amulet to close off the area where most blood clots form.
Catheter Ablation is a procedure that aims to restore your normal heart rhythm and may also eliminate the need for long term anticoagulation in some people with AFib.
Although without the use of blood thinners, AFib also increases your risk of stroke by up to 5 times, with a stroke risk of around 20 percent over 10 years.
It's also very important that you work with a cardiologist to assess your specific risk of stroke, vs your risk of bleeding.
AFib is also known as atrial fibrillation, which is a common and often even chronic arrhythmia that causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat that arises from your heart's upper chambers or atria, which causes them to quiver instead of pump the blood effectively.
AFib increase your risk of stroke and heart failure significantly.
The symptoms of AFib or atrial fibrillation include fatigue, heart palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath.
AFib is primarily caused by abnormal electrical signals in your heart, that is often triggered by underlying conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and even sleep apnea.
Common symptoms of AFib are a rapid and fluttering heartbeat or pounding heartbeat also known as heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, lightheadedness and fatigue.
People with AFib are at 5 times higher risk of stroke due to the inefficient pumping that can cause blood to pool in your heart and form blood clots.
Treatment for AFib focuses on restoring your hearts normal rhythm, controlling the heart rate and preventing blood clots from forming using medications or procedures like ablation.
And maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress and reducing alcohol intake and treating the underlying conditions are also crucial for proper management of AFib.