Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots to form in your heart. Having atrial fibrillation increases your risk of stroke by five times.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke
Resource type: Information leaflet
Publication type: Stroke information
People with a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (AF) are five times more likely to have a stroke. This guide explains what AF is diagnosed, how it increases your risk of stroke and how it is treated.
Atrial Fibrillation: Information and Resources
Information about atrial fibrillation for healthcare and other professionals.
Blood-thinning medication and stroke
Resource type: Information leaflet
Publication type: Stroke information
You might be prescribed blood-thinning medication to reduce your risk of a TIA or stroke. This guide explains the two types of blood-thinning medication available, antiplatelets and anticoagulants, and how they are used after a stroke or for someone with atrial fibrillation.
Blood-thinning medication and stroke
You might be given blood-thinning medications after you've had a stroke, to help you avoid another one. Or you might need blood-thinning medication if you have a health condition such as a heart problem or blood-clotting disorder which could lead to a stroke.
Brain bleeds in patients on medication for atrial fibrillation - new study
Wednesday 19 April 2017
Published online first in the journal Neurology, a new study suggests that people with AF who have an ICH due to their medication have similar outcomes whether they're on a NOAC or a vitamin K antagonist drug.
CADISS - New research into treatment of common cause of stroke in young people
Thursday 12 February 2015
On 12 February 2015, at the International Stroke Conference (ISC 2015) in Nashville, USA, the findings of a Stroke Association-funded study were presented, called CADISS (Cervical Artery Dissection In Stroke Study).
Comparing early versus late use of oral anticoagulant drugs in stroke patients with an abnormal heart rhythm
This study will investigate whether early initiation of direct anticoagulant drugs will be as safe as later initiation in stroke patients with an abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation). It will also investigate whether early initation could lead to fewer recurrent strokes.
Emma Day's story
Monday 1 June 2015
Stroke survivor and volunteer Emma Day shares her story and why volunteering is important.
New research suggests brain scans could help predict brain bleed risk in patients on anticoagulant drugs.
Wednesday 16 May 2018
The CROMIS-2 study investigated whether signs of small brain bleeds on routine brain scans can help us understand which ischaemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of a bleed in the brain when on anticoagulant ‘blood thinning’ drugs.