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Volume 3 Issue 5

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than those without it. That's because the irregular beat allows blood to pool in the atria, boosting the danger that a clot will form and then be carried to the brain. Although AF can strike at any age, it's most common in the elderly, affecting about 5 percent of those ages 65 and older. Often, it doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms, but some people who have it experience racing, pounding, or fluttering in their chest, known as "butterflies." About 20 percent of strokes are linked to AF. One way to tell if you might have AF is to check your pulse for 60 seconds and see if you notice any irregular beats. If so, consult your doctor for further evaluation, which may include an electrocardiogram. Also be aware that some people experience asymptomatic AF that requires longer- term evaluation with an "event monitor" to track heartbeats for up to 30 days. Blood-Clotting Disorders A number of inherited conditions, such as Factor V Leiden, raise the risk of developing blood clots. Warning signs that you might have a clotting disorder include developing clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis) and levido reticularis (areas of skin with a mottled, purplish discoloration). Women who have suffered more than one miscarriage are also at increased risk for blood clots. Other risk factors for developing clots include recent surgery, a broken bone or other injuries, taking birth control or hormone replacement therapy, obesity, and making long airplane or car trips. If you're prone to blood clots or have a clotting disorder, your doctor may prescribe blood-thinning medication. During travel, it's advisable to get up and move around every two or three hours to keep your blood flowing and reduce the risk of forming a clot. Blood Vessel Blockages Using an ultrasound test called carotid duplex, your doctors can check for narrowing and blockages in the carotid arteries, two large blood vessels on each side of the neck that supply the brain. This test can be valuable for stroke patients, but it also has a major limitation: The exam only looks at one aspect of blood vessel health, the rate of blood flow through the carotids much like police use radar guns to see how fast cars are traveling on the highway. What most patients – and many doctors – don't know is that it's possible, and even common, to have CVD that's severe enough to cause a heart attack or stroke without blockages in the vessels. In fact, the vast majority of plaque deposits – including highly inflamed areas (the kind that ignite heart attacks and strokes) – do not obstruct blood flow at all. Therefore, lack of blockages is not proof that a patient is free of CVD. Abby's Magazine - September/October 2015 | Page 45

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