Athletes, AF, Anticoagulants, Statins, Peanuts, and Dishwashers

Here is an update on my recent writing. Athletes and AF: I was honored to be invited back to the Western AF symposium in Park City, Utah. Last year, I presented on social media. This year, Dr. Nassir Marrouche (University of Utah) asked me to tackle the topic of atrial fibrillation in athletes. This is no small matter. In the process of putting together the 20-minute talk, I wrote an essay as a guide. In Athletes and AF: Connecting the Lifestyle Dots, I review the evidence, mechanisms, and treatment considerations of the endurance athlete with AF. My argument in the talk and essay is that AF happens for a reason–even in athletes. We are at an inflection point in the way we think about AF. I made the case that the exercise-AF narrative fits with this new thinking. AF and anticoagulant drugs:  In The Gambling Game: Clot vs Bleeding, I address the issue of preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. The stimulus for this essay was a new study from Sweden that reported lower than expected stroke risk in non-treated AF patients with only one risk factor. (CHADS-VASC-1). This is important data because knowing the risk of stroke without treatment informs the decision on whether to take an anticoagulant drug. It is definitively not a yes or no call. The tradeoff is always the same: anticoagulant drugs lower the risk of stroke but increase the risk of bleeding. You need stats (and a good adviser–doctor) to make the best choice. And it is your choice. Statin ...
Source: Dr John M - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: blogs