Having a stroke changes your life.
And it's normal to feel overwhelmed by everything that's happened.
It will help if you just take it one step at a time.
And because you have atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, one of your most important steps is taking a blood thinner every day.
You see, having a-fib raises your chances of having a stroke.
And having a stroke raises your chances of having another stroke even more.
So your doctor has prescribed a blood thinner, called an anticoagulant, to help prevent another stroke.
You might already be taking this type of medicine. That's great.
The important thing is to always take the blood thinner your doctor has prescribed.
Now ... a blood thinner won't make you feel any better.
So it can be hard to understand why you should take it.
It might help if you learn how it works. Let me show you.
Your heart has an electrical system that controls the timing of your heartbeat.
Normally, this system makes your heart beat in a strong, steady rhythm to keep your blood moving.
But with a-fib, you have these tiny areas of heart tissue that send out extra electrical signals.
Those extra signals cause the upper chambers of your heart ... the atria ...
to quiver or fibrillate.
And this quivering upsets the normal rhythm of your heartbeat.
Now, when your heartbeat isn't strong and steady, blood can pool in your heart and form clots.
And if a clot travels to your brain, you could have a stroke.
A blood-thinner works by making it harder for your blood to clot in the first place.
You won't feel it working, but it is.
That's how taking this pill can make a difference.
It's important to talk to your doctor about how to take this medicine safely, and how to use it over time.
So go ahead and take this important step.
Help yourself prevent another stroke.
