For those that suffer from heart disease, a simple surgery might be the solution to help prevent a catastrophic stroke from occurring.
A study out of McMaster University looked at over 4,000 people from 27 different countries to determine what the best course of action was when it came to preventing stroke for people that were living with atrial fibrillation and were on blood thinners. This is a population that is consistently at high risk for having a stroke.
Those that go through atrial fibrillation are already having a surgical procedure undertaken. The additional step occurs with something known as the left atrial appendage. The research that the McMaster team conducted suggests that removing this can help to prevent blood clots from forming in the future. They believe that it will help to save and prolong the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world each year. The fact that these findings were consistent across the globe for people from different cultures and lifestyles suggests this as well. Hopefully, this is just a first step forward for helping to prevent stroke related deaths in the future.
The median time for tracking patients and their outcomes after the time of surgery was four years. Overall, it was found that the individuals that elected to have the surgery were in much better shape when it came to stroke prevention. The risk of having a stroke for those that went through the surgery was cut by more than a third when compared to those that just took medicine to control their symptoms.
One of the biggest takeaways from this particular study is that it can have an instant impact on improving health incomes. The surgical procedure is closely related to the procedure that these individuals are already going through, it only requires one extra step. That step is not a complicated one, and many surgeons are already proficient in both of these steps. About 15 percent of people that have heart surgery go through atrial fibrillation, and their health outcomes can be improved dramatically if this is incorporated.
There’s always room for improving on what we have come to accept as the “standard” for health procedures. This surgery is just one example. There’s always room for improvement when it comes to senior care, too. That’s where our specialty lies.
Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and a lot of other health conditions can make caring for a loved one on your own or as a family really difficult. You might find that you’re no longer able to provide the people that you love with the quality of care that they deserve. If you find yourself beginning to wonder this, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can talk more about your unique situation and help you to determine which course of action will be best for your family so that their quality of life is not diminished just because they find themselves facing health complications.
We’re here to help, just give us a call or email to get started.
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