1. Treat Your Heart Right to Prevent Stroke
Those with heart disease, particularly conditions that can cause what's known as atrial fibrillation, are at a greatly increased risk for an embolus formation. An embolus is a blood clot that forms somewhere in a blood vessel and is known as a thrombus. Once the blood clot "breaks off" and moves through the vessel, it's termed an embolus. Emboli eventually lodge somewhere else in the vessel, blocking the blood flow to that area. If this area is in the brain, the result is an embolic stroke.
2. Address Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the disconcerting feeling of your heart beating at an abnormally fast rate. It can happen for a variety of reasons, but often has to do with an electrical conduction problem in the heart, which may just be a natural defect. Many people live chronically with atrial fibrillation--but that doesn't mean it's a great idea to do so. The rapid flutter of the heart's chamber can cause the formation of blood clots that then move out into the arterial system. If one moves into the brain's arteries, it may lodge in a vessel and cause an embolic stroke. If you've been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, your doctor may prescribe a beta blocker or a calcium channel blocker. While usually used as anti-hypertensives, these drugs can also slow your heart's ventricular rate. This is the first step in addressing atrial fibrillation.
3. Be Diligent if You've Recently Had a Heart Attack
The first four weeks following a heart attack present an increased risk for embolic stroke. Due to the damage to the heart tissue, an embolus can form fairly easily and then make its way through the arteries to the brain. During your initial conversations with your cardiac specialist following a heart attack, be sure you voice your concern and ask what preventative measures your cardiac team plans to take.
4. Stay on Top of Your Condition After Valve Surgery
There are a number of reasons that thrombi form in the heart and become emboli, but patients recovering from heart valve replacement surgery, should be aware of their increased risk. Your cardiac team should give you all the information you need to help prevent a thrombus from forming in the first place, but you should also be on the lookout for the signs of an already-formed embolus, which include poor circulation (coolness or tingling of the extremities), a bluish tint to the skin, lightheadedness or an actual fainting episode.
