I want to learn more about Stroke risk reduction

I have atrial fibrillation (AFib) and want to learn more about stroke risk reduction

Working with your doctor is an important part of managing your risk of stroke. Be prepared and learn how to talk to your doctor.

Want to lower your stroke risk? Your doctor can help. Find out how:

Here's how your doctor can help in your fight against stroke:

What your doctor can do	How it helps you
Identify your other stroke risk factors	When you know all of your risk factors, you can work to control them.
Screen you for other medical conditions that increase your risk of stroke and give you a treatment plan to help control them	When you control these medical conditions, your stroke risk goes down.
Suggest healthy lifestyle changes to help you lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of stroke	It's easier to get started with healthy living when you have a plan.
Give you regular medical check-ups	Regular check-ups will show you whether your medical conditions and other stroke risk factors are under control.
Offer advice and support when you have questions or concerns	Resolving your questions and concerns can help you stay on track with your stroke risk reduction plan.

Talk to your doctor about your stroke risk and how you can work together to reduce it.

If you have high cholesterol, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about your stroke risk, especially if:

you're a man over 40 or a woman over 50 and you haven't had your cholesterol checked in the last 3 years
you're not sure whether your cholesterol is under control
you're not sure how to reduce your risk of a stroke related to high cholesterol
you have questions or concerns about your cholesterol medication
you sometimes miss doses of your cholesterol medication
you have questions or concerns about your high cholesterol treatment plan
you have atrial fibrillation
you have heart palpitations (an irregular and rapid heartbeat, typically experienced as a rapid thumping in the chest)
you have diabetes
you're over 40 and you haven't had a blood sugar test to check for diabetes in the last 3 years
you haven't had your blood pressure checked in the last year
you have high blood pressure
you've had a stroke or TIA in the past
you are over 65
a close family member (such as a parent, sibling, or child) had a stroke before age 65
you smoke
you regularly drink more than 2 drinks a day or 10 drinks a week for women, or more than 3 drinks a day or 15 drinks a week for men
you don't have an active lifestyle (this does not apply to people whose doctor has not given them approval to exercise)
you have any other concerns about your stroke risk

Contact your doctor to discuss your stroke risk.

You may only have a short time in your doctor's office. Here are the top 5 ways to make the most of it:

Do your homework: Write down what you're hoping to get out of the visit, what you want to ask the doctor, and any concerns you may have. Bring a record of your medications, medical conditions, allergies, and medical history.

Use the Doctor Discussion Guide to keep track of this information and prepare for talking with your doctor.
Bring a friend: You may want to bring a friend or family member to your appointment to make you feel less intimidated, help you remember to ask all of your questions, and take notes.
Ask your most important question first in case you run out of time.
Take notes so you remember your doctor's instructions.
Speak up if you don't understand. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you are confused. It can also help to repeat back what you've heard in your own words to make sure you've understood it.

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