How did I get AFib?
There are different risk factors of AFib. Your doctor can help identify which ones apply to you.
It's also important to note that sometimes your doctor may not know why you developed AFib.
Living well with AFib starts with self-advocacy
JANET
Age 72
Diagnosed with AFib in 2014
“This year's our 50th wedding anniversary. We’re getting the whole family and grandkids and everything together,” says Janet S., age 72. Janet is celebrating this milestone on a family trip where the whole clan plans to listen to live music and go to amusement parks.
In 2014, while getting bloodwork done for an unrelated procedure, Janet was diagnosed with AFib. Luckily, her procedure went well, but her AFib remained since it is a separate condition. At that point, Janet worked with her doctor to understand her diagnosis while also doing her own research.
What is AFib?
AFib is an irregular heartbeat that keeps the upper and lower chambers of the heart from working together. This can cause blood to pool in the heart, which can lead to complications like blood clots.
Up to 6.1 MILLION Americans are estimated to have atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that causes:
IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT
HEART PALPITATIONS
Which lead to:
BLOOD POOLING IN THE HEART
Causing:
A BLOOD CLOT TO FORM
"The causes of AFib are varied," explains Dr. Sanjum Sethi, a cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Center. Other causes include high blood pressure, sleep apnea, excessive consumption of alcohol, being overweight, smoking, diabetes, a family history of AFib, and other heart conditions.
“If you have a heart valve problem or prior cardiac surgery, those could predispose you to AFib, but most commonly, it’s a disease of aging…as we age, the incidence [of AFib] increases quite dramatically."
Dr. Sanjum Sethi
Janet's Stroke Risk
Janet's doctor explained the CHA2DS2-VASc score to her, which is based on certain conditions that determine risk for stroke. “The scoring system helps us determine what the actual risk is for developing stroke if you have AFib. Not every patient who has AFib is at equal risk for stroke. The CHA2DS2-VASc score allows us to determine which patients will benefit the most from receiving anticoagulation," explains Dr. Sethi. Janet has a score of 3 out of 9, with her age, gender, and type II diabetes as the three factors.
You can find out your score by using this calculator.
CHA2DS2-VASc: KNOW YOUR RISK
Add points below for each condition you have
Signs/symptoms of heart failure confirmed with test of heart failure
Resting blood pressure >140/90 on at least 2 occasions or on blood pressure meds
Fasting blood sugar >125 mg/dL or on medications or insulin
Includes any history of stroke
Prior heart attack, peripheral artery disease, or aortic plaque
Female gender means a higher risk
The American Heart Association recommends anticoagulation with a blood thinner for a score of 2 OR HIGHER.
REMINDER: Even if you are taking medicine to treat your AFib and not experiencing symptoms, YOUR STROKE RISK WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE OVER TIME.
YOUR DOCTOR IS ALWAYS YOUR BEST RESOURCE. He or she knows your situation best and can help you determine a treatment plan.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of AFib are a rapid and irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, chest pain or pressure, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, or fatigue—but some people experience no symptoms at all. When Janet was first diagnosed, she would experience short periods of heart racing but was lucky that her symptoms never reached extreme levels.
“AFib is tricky in the sense that some people are very symptomatic, and some people have no symptoms at all. AFib is an electrical problem of the heart where the top chamber is beating a lot faster than the bottom chamber. The body is often able to compensate for the electrical problem, so you may experience no symptoms at all."
Dr. Sanjum Sethi
Because of all her research, Janet was aware that AFib can cause blood clots, which can lead to stroke, so she made the decision with her doctor to start an aspirin regimen to lower her risks.
People with AFib are5 TIMES MORE LIKELY to have a stroke
Stroke is a serious consequence of AFib. Complications from AFib, such as heart palpitations and irregular heartbeats, can cause blood to pool in the heart, where a clot can develop.
Even if you are treating your AFib and feeling fine, your stroke risk continues to increase over time. That’s why it’s important to periodically review your CHA2DS2-VASc score with your doctor.
After initially treating AFib with aspirin, Janet saw a doctor who recommended a blood thinner called XARELTO®. While aspirin was once considered a treatment for those at low risk for stroke, the AHA no longer recommends aspirin for the treatment of AFib, regardless of risk level. As her own best advocate, Janet stays up-to-date on the benefits and risks of taking XARELTO®. Her husband also plays a large role in her health.
“He really wants me to take XARELTO® because he doesn't want me to have a stroke either. We support each other. He'll remind me to take my meds after dinner."
Janet
With 6 children and 15 grandchildren, there's no shortage of people who are counting on Janet to stay healthy. “I know how devastating [strokes] can be and I did think about my children and grandchildren and my husband…I thought if I could avoid having one, that would be good—live a longer life without impairment, that would be great. I know some people that've had strokes, and it's really tough," says Janet. Along with taking XARELTO®, Janet now exercises more. She belongs to a local gym and goes on a vigorous walk once a week. This has also allowed her to take advantage of her city's metro park system.
Janet is proof that working with your doctor is integral to managing AFib-related stroke and blood clots. A combination of her own research and conversations with various doctors has led her to a plan that includes once-daily XARELTO® to lower her risk for stroke. Because XARELTO® is a blood thinner, it helps prevent or reduce blood clotting, which significantly reduces the risk of stroke in people with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem.
There are different risk factors of AFib. Your doctor can help identify which ones apply to you.
It's also important to note that sometimes your doctor may not know why you developed AFib.
AFib can cause blood clots, which can lead to stroke. An irregular heartbeat can cause blood to pool in the heart, where a blood clot can develop. If a clot forms, it can travel from the heart to the brain and lead to a stroke.
People with AFib are five times more likely to have a stroke, and an AFib-related stroke is typically more severe than other types of strokes.
You can assess your risk with the CHA2DS2-VASc calculator. Your CHA2DS2-VASc score is based on certain factors that can determine your risk for stroke* and whether you need to take an anticoagulant blood thinner.
Add points for each condition you have.
*Stroke risk increases over time with age and other medical conditions.
Medical treatment options for AFib range from medications, to procedures, to surgery, with the goal of getting your heart back into rhythm. There are a range of medications that can treat AFib, and you may already be taking one.
Some medications control your heart rate (like beta blockers), others control your heart rhythm (like sodium or potassium channel blockers), and blood thinners are prescribed to prevent blood from clotting. Your doctor will consider the severity of your AFib and risk of stroke in prescribing the best treatment for you.
If your CHA2DS2-VASc score is 2 or higher, the American Heart Association recommends anticoagulation with a blood thinner. While there are a number of different types of anticoagulants available to help treat AFib, direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are one of the newest classes that have some notable advantages when compared to others, including no known dietary restrictions and no routine blood monitoring.
The AHA no longer recommends aspirin for AFib-related stroke risk protection, regardless of your risk level.
XARELTO® is a direct-acting oral anticoagulant blood thinner approved by the FDA that significantly reduces the risk of stroke in people with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem.
In fact, in a clinical study, more than 96% of people taking XARELTO® remained stroke-free.
Work with your doctor to determine what's best for you. Consider the severity of your condition and your treatment goals.
Heart-healthy activities will not only benefit your AFib condition but also help your overall health. This includes staying active, eating healthy foods low in fat and salt, controlling cholesterol, and maintaining an appropriate weight.
*Taken with the evening meal
If you have AFib, talk to your doctor about all your options.
You'll also want to calculate your CHA2DS2-VASc score so you know what your risk for stroke is, or if it has increased.
If you'd like to stay updated on XARELTO® news, register here. And remember, you are not alone.
There is a community of people with AFib just like you, and you can educate yourself and others by staying informed and spreading the word.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT XARELTO®?
XARELTO® may cause serious side effects, including:
You may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take XARELTO® and take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, including:
Tell your doctor if you take any of these medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one listed above.
Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding:
If you take XARELTO® and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots. Tell your doctor right away if you have back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness (especially in your legs and feet), or loss of control of the bowels or bladder (incontinence).
XARELTO® is not for use in people with artificial heart valves.
XARELTO® is not for use in people with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), especially with positive triple antibody testing.
Do not take XARELTO® if you:
Before taking XARELTO®, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking XARELTO®. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed XARELTO® for you before you have any surgery, medical or dental procedure.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some of your other medicines may affect the way XARELTO® works, causing side effects. Certain medicines may increase your risk of bleeding. See “What is the most important information I should know about XARELTO®?”
HOW SHOULD I TAKE XARELTO®?
If you take XARELTO® for:
© Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2021May 2021cp-113688v4
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT XARELTO®?
XARELTO® may cause serious side effects, including:
You may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take XARELTO® and take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, including:
Tell your doctor if you take any of these medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one listed above.
Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding:
If you take XARELTO® and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots. Tell your doctor right away if you have back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness (especially in your legs and feet), or loss of control of the bowels or bladder (incontinence).
XARELTO® is not for use in people with artificial heart valves.
XARELTO® is not for use in people with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), especially with positive triple antibody testing.
Do not take XARELTO® if you:
Before taking XARELTO®, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking XARELTO®. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed XARELTO® for you before you have any surgery, medical or dental procedure.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some of your other medicines may affect the way XARELTO® works, causing side effects. Certain medicines may increase your risk of bleeding. See “What is the most important information I should know about XARELTO®?”
HOW SHOULD I TAKE XARELTO®?
If you take XARELTO® for:
