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  Aspirin is not a good idea for women trying to stave off heart attacks or strokes. Fifty women would have to take ASA for 10 years to help just one person, and this would only be for women at risk for a heart attack. For a person who has already had a heart attack or stroke, the evidence shows there is some benefit to taking aspirin, but it is not...

It is defined and coagulation issues addressed. Treatment options including anticoagulants, cardioversion, and certain drugs are reviewed. Its cause should be looked for and prevention considered.          

Seniors who take daily aspirin have twice the risk for wet macular degeneration (not for the dry form). The risk increases from 2 cases per 100 people to 4 cases per 100 people. The authors stated that they felt the benefits of fewer heart attacks and strokes outweighed the visual issues. However, no mention of other forms of anticoagulation were considered such...

Most angioplasties and stents used to treat acute heart attacks or unstable angina in the US are necessary and lifesaving. We know that these procedures are not indicated for people with coronary artery blockages who are stable; only about 3% benefit from these invasive procedures compared to medical treatment alone using pharmaceutical drugs. There is also a...

  Pradaxa is currently the only FDA approved drug that inhibits factor Xa and seems to have significant advantages over Coumadin. Early studies have shown a 21% less likely risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation, a 31% lower risk of bleeding, and an 11% lower mortality rate. Two drugs under study by the FDA now include Xarelto, and Eliquis.  If...

  A large clinical trial testing the effects of aspirin and Plavix to prevent small strokes was stopped because there was no added benefit by combining these drugs and the risk of bleeding was too high. This information was presented at the 2012 American Stroke Association meeting in February of 2012. A second abstract presented at the same conference...

Atrial fibrillation occurs when the top part of the heart, called the atria, beats at around 300 beats per minute and leads to ineffective contraction of the atria. This predisposes to clots forming in the left atrium that can break off and travel to the brain and block circulation and result in strokes. Anticoagulation is the treatment of choice but there is...