Taking anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation

Why are anticoagulants used for atrial fibrillation?

Anticoagulants are used to treat atrial fibrillation because irregularly beating heart chambers cause blood to pool. Pooled blood is more likely to develop blood clots, which can travel from the heart to the brain and cause a stroke. Anticoagulants help prevent the blood clots from forming and reduce the risk of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: April 19, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Laurence Epstein, MD - Cardiac Electrophysiologist Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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