1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Afib and stress test

Posted by 1966prostreet @1966prostreet, May 18, 2023

Afib for 3 years about 2-3 times a year. 69 year old male been smoking 48 years. Have copd and heart scoring of 1650. Taking statin, high blood pressure med and Eliquis. What possible benefits can a stress test provide at this point? I’m afraid of heart attack, stroke, or putting me back in Afib and the hospital.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

windyshores | @windyshores | Jun 10, 2023
In reply to @gloaming "The problem is that taking an anticoagulant AFTER THE FACT is not going to help much..." + (show)
@gloaming

The problem is that taking an anticoagulant AFTER THE FACT is not going to help much as taking nitro does during an angina attack, the latter being much faster acting and providing relief. An anticoagulant does not offer relief. It offers security against the risk of stroke during episodes of arrhythmia. If one is not sensitive to arrhythmias, but has them, of what use will be an anticoagulant that won't have much serum content and effect until approximately 40 minutes have passed since ingestion...about 40 minutes too late?

Eliquis and other anticoagulants are to be preventative. They're like a resume, an insurance policy, or a fire extinguisher; their use is immediate upon demand. Only if you actually take them, and only when they are present.

Jump to this post

@gloaming are you saying that taking anticoagulants after an episode like mine, won't do anything? I read a study on using anticoagulants short term after an episode lasting more than 5 hours (I have to go back and see at what point they were given but assume it was after 5 hours) and the study said they were effective. Holding out hope for this to become practice but your post concerns me.

REPLY
gloaming | @gloaming | Jun 10, 2023

There is evidence that a stroke arising from AF can take place hours and days later. The problem is dislodging of a clot from the atrial appendage, and that might not take place for many hours. Or, it might take place inside of 20 minutes, much too early for the just-swallowed apixaban/other anticoagulant to have any benefit. So, the prescription is usually for life once your CHADS/VASc score rises to a certain value. And, if it's for life, and if you take one or two tablets each day per prescription, you'll always be protected, 24/7, by the bioavailable quantity of drug in your system. Taking it after a bout of AF raises your risk of stroke because it takes at least 40 minutes for the drug to begin to function in your blood.

REPLY
1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Jun 10, 2023
In reply to @gloaming "There is evidence that a stroke arising from AF can take place hours and days later...." + (show)
@gloaming

There is evidence that a stroke arising from AF can take place hours and days later. The problem is dislodging of a clot from the atrial appendage, and that might not take place for many hours. Or, it might take place inside of 20 minutes, much too early for the just-swallowed apixaban/other anticoagulant to have any benefit. So, the prescription is usually for life once your CHADS/VASc score rises to a certain value. And, if it's for life, and if you take one or two tablets each day per prescription, you'll always be protected, 24/7, by the bioavailable quantity of drug in your system. Taking it after a bout of AF raises your risk of stroke because it takes at least 40 minutes for the drug to begin to function in your blood.

Jump to this post

@gloaming with afib once a year or now once every two years, the risk/benefit balance for me is to not take anticoagulants. My docs agree. There was a study on short term anticoagulation for people like me and the results were excellent. The episode needs to last 5 hours. Mine usually don't except for the one in 2021 that lasted 7. There is risk of stroke with anticoagulants as well!

ps the hospital docs did an echo for me when it lasted 7 hours to check for clots (and of course I had Lovenox).

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.