Should I take an oral blood thinner for atrial fibrillation?
Welcome!
This tool is designed to help you make an informed decision about whether to take an oral blood thinner to lower your risk of stroke.
This aid is for you if:
You have atrial fibrillation (AF), which raises your risk of stroke.
Your CHA2DS2-VASc score is 2 or higher if you're a man, or 3 or higher if you're a woman.
You will calculate your CHA2DS2-VASc score later in this aid.
You do not have a history of rheumatic heart disease or a mechanical heart valve.
Some health conditions raise the risk of stroke. These include:
High blood pressure — damages blood vessels, increasing clot risk
Diabetes — affects circulation and healing
Heart failure — weakens the heart's pumping ability
Vascular disease — narrowed or blocked arteries can lead to clots
Previous stroke or clot — increases chances it could happen again
Older age and female sex — naturally raise stroke risk in people with AF