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December 1, 2008

What's next?

Talk to your doctor about how to lower your risk of stroke if you have atrial fibrillation. You may be able to take medicine or make lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or changing your diet, that can reduce your chances of stroke. Although warfarin offers the best protection against stroke, it can also cause serious bleeding and other problems. Some people cannot take warfarin because they have ulcers, a high risk of falling, or other conditions that increase the risk of serious bleeding. If you have a moderate to high risk of stroke but cannot take warfarin, your doctor will probably have you take another medicine.

For more information, see the topic Atrial Fibrillation.

This tool was derived from Wang TJ, et al. (2003). A risk score for predicting stroke or death in individuals with new-onset atrial fibrillation in the community: The Framingham heart study. JAMA, 290(8): 1049–1056. The Framingham Heart Study is a project of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Boston University. More information is available online at www.framinghamheartstudy.org.