In the case where a clot completely obstructs a coronary artery, the underlying cardiac muscle suffers and it is painful. It is a “heart attack”. This is a medical emergency!

My heart started skipping beats that night. I admit that my cardiologist tried to reassure me. This is easier said than done, I was still worried that my heart would let me down, no matter what. It was only some time later that I realized that my doctor was right.

The patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small opening between the 2 upper chambers of the heart, the right and left atriums. It is a hole in the atrial septum, a congenital defect known as an atrial septal defect (ASD). In other words, a heart formation abnormality present at birth. It is estimated that the malformation is present in nearly 25% of the population.

Blood thinning means that an anticoagulant therapy is prescribed to treat blood coagulation disorders and prevent blood clots from forming. People wonder why patients who take NOACs are not required to do as many thorough follow-ups of their condition, such as frequent blood tests, as those who are treated with Coumadin™. This text will shed light on the subject.