Interactive Tool: What Is Your Risk for a Stroke if You Have Atrial Fibrillation?

What does your score mean?

Your score will appear in as a value from 1% to 99%. If your score is 5%, it means that 5 out of 100 people with this level of risk will have a stroke in the next 5 years. If your score is 10%, it means that 10 out of 100 people with this level of risk will have a stroke in the next 5 years.

These percentages are one way your doctor might determine whether you should take the anticoagulant warfarin (such as Coumadin) to prevent a stroke. Talk with your doctor about the best way to lower your risk of stroke.

If you are at a 10% risk or lower, you may get enough protection from stroke by taking aspirin. Aspirin may be preferred because the risk of serious bleeding from taking warfarin outweighs the risk of having a stroke.

If you are above a 10% risk, talk to your doctor about taking warfarin. You may benefit from this medicine because your risk for having a stroke is greater than the risks from taking warfarin.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: December 1, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Richard D. Zorowitz, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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