Atrial Fibrillation More Dangerous to Women
September 22, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
It’s time that women receive (and demand) more attention for atrial fibrillation. According to the American Heart Association, 15% of strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation, when the heart’s two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver rather than beating effectively.
During atrial fibrillation, blood isn’t pumped completely out of the atria. The blood may pool and clot, leaving the atria and becoming lodged in an artery in the brain. The end result is a stroke.
New research from cardiac experts at Rush University Medical Center reveals that women are more likely than men to experience symptomatic attacks of atrial fibrillation. They also endure a higher number of recurrences. Women also have significantly higher heart rates during atrial fibrillation, and that increases the risk of stroke. In short, more women are dying from strokes. Findings will be published in the September issue of Gender Medicine.
The study also found that women are not prescribed blood thinners as often as men, resulting in a higher incidence of blood clots. Researchers also found that women are referred less often or later for procedures such as pacemaker implantation or ablation. At Rush University, you can read more about the gender differences between women and men when it comes to treatment for atrial fibrillation.
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