{ "release_id": "f4600233112e1c27", "id": "cardio:guide-afib-blood-thinners", "owner": "cardio", "kind": "patient_guide", "slug": "afib-blood-thinners", "name": "AF and blood thinners", "aliases": [], "atlases": [ "cardio" ], "summary_plain": "What atrial fibrillation (AF) is, how the sources link it to stroke, what blood thinners and a left atrial appendage closure device are, how the sources describe bleeding, and questions to ask a care team.", "summary_technical": "A static guide to atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention, written from MedlinePlus pages, NHLBI pages restated in the atlas’s own words, a trial abstract, an FDA approval record and an ACC summary of a guideline. It gives no advice for one reader.", "editorial_state": "draft", "last_substantive_edit": "2026-10-15", "last_evidence_check": "2026-10-15", "next_review_due": "2027-04-15", "identifiers": [], "navigation": { "cardio": { "system": [ "heart", "brain" ], "condition-area": [ "arrhythmias", "stroke" ] } }, "payload": { "purpose": "explainer", "audience": "Adults with atrial fibrillation, and the people with them", "about": [ "cardio:atrial-fibrillation", "cardio:oral-anticoagulation", "cardio:apixaban", "cardio:watchman", "cardio:left-atrial-appendage-occlusion", "cardio:pathway-af-stroke-prevention", "core:stroke" ], "reading_grade_target": 9, "scope_note": "Written from three MedlinePlus health topic pages, two NHLBI pages, an ACC summary of a guideline, a 2009 trial abstract, a trial registry entry and a US FDA approval record. The NHLBI and ACC wording is restated in the atlas’s own words. It describes what these sources say and gives no advice for one person. It leaves out doses and the results of the trials that compared single blood thinners.", "warning_blocks": [ { "heading": "Stroke symptoms MedlinePlus lists", "signs": [ { "id": "ss-1", "text": "Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body).", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of a stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "ss-2", "text": "Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of a stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "ss-3", "text": "Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of a stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "ss-4", "text": "Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of a stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "ss-5", "text": "Sudden severe headache with no known cause.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of a stroke?" } ] } ], "act_now": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What is a stroke?", "words": "If you think that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 right away." } ] }, { "heading": "Examples of serious bleeding signs for blood thinners, from MedlinePlus", "signs": [ { "id": "bs-1", "text": "Menstrual bleeding that is much heavier than normal.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-2", "text": "Red or brown urine.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-3", "text": "Bowel movements that are red or black.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-4", "text": "Bleeding from the gums or nose that does not stop quickly.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-5", "text": "Vomit that is brown or bright red.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-6", "text": "Coughing up something red.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-7", "text": "Severe pain, such as a headache or stomachache.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-8", "text": "Unusual bruising.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-9", "text": "A cut that does not stop bleeding.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-10", "text": "A serious fall or bump on the head.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bs-11", "text": "Dizziness or weakness.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] } ], "act_now": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?", "words": "Call your provider if you have any sign of serious bleeding" } ] } ], "sections": [ { "heading": "What atrial fibrillation (AF) is", "statements": [ { "id": "af-1", "text": "Atrial fibrillation, called AF or AFib, is among the most common kinds of arrhythmia, a problem with how fast or how regularly the heart beats.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What is atrial fibrillation (AFib)?" } ] }, { "id": "af-2", "text": "In AF the heartbeat is irregular and at times much faster than normal.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What is atrial fibrillation (AFib)?" } ] }, { "id": "af-3", "text": "Some people with AF have no symptoms and do not know they have it.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AFib)?" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, paragraph 2" } ] } ] }, { "heading": "AF and stroke", "statements": [ { "id": "stroke-1", "text": "NHLBI says that in AF blood can collect in the heart, which makes clots more likely to form.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-af-raises-stroke-risk" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, paragraph 2" } ] }, { "id": "stroke-2", "text": "NHLBI adds that a clot can lead to a stroke or other complications.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-af-raises-stroke-risk" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, paragraph 2" } ] }, { "id": "stroke-3", "text": "MedlinePlus says AF can put a person at risk for stroke and other heart conditions.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-af-raises-stroke-risk" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What is atrial fibrillation (AFib)?" } ] }, { "id": "stroke-4", "text": "MedlinePlus names stroke, heart failure, blood clots, sudden cardiac arrest, and cognitive impairment and dementia among the serious problems that untreated AF can lead to.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-atrial-fibrillation-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What other problems can AFib cause?" } ] }, { "id": "stroke-6", "text": "MedlinePlus says AF and other heart diseases can cause blood clots that lead to stroke.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, Who is at risk for a stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "stroke-7", "text": "MedlinePlus says the symptoms of a stroke often happen quickly and that they include the five listed in the stroke box.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the symptoms of a stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "stroke-5", "text": "Neither NHLBI nor MedlinePlus gives a number for how much AF raises the risk of stroke.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-af-raises-stroke-risk" } ] } ] }, { "heading": "What blood thinners do", "statements": [ { "id": "bt-1", "text": "MedlinePlus describes blood thinners as medicines that stop blood clots from forming.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-2", "text": "MedlinePlus says blood thinners do not break up a clot that is already there, but they can stop it from getting bigger.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-3", "text": "MedlinePlus names atrial fibrillation among the conditions in which a person may need a blood thinner.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, Who needs blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-4", "text": "NHLBI says people with a risk of stroke may need a blood thinner.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-oral-anticoagulation-prevents-stroke-in-af" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Medicines, Blood thinners" } ] }, { "id": "bt-5", "text": "NHLBI gives warfarin and the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban and edoxaban as examples of blood thinners.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-oral-anticoagulation-prevents-stroke-in-af" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Medicines, Blood thinners (fragment 1 of 2)" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Medicines, Blood thinners (fragment 2 of 2)" } ] }, { "id": "bt-6", "text": "NHLBI says these medicines stop clots from forming and lower the chance of a stroke.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-oral-anticoagulation-prevents-stroke-in-af" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Medicines, Blood thinners (fragment 2 of 2)" } ] }, { "id": "bt-7", "text": "MedlinePlus lists two types of blood thinners, anticoagulants and antiplatelets.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the different types of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-7a", "text": "In that list, anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin, slow the body's process of making clots.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the different types of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-7b", "text": "In that list, antiplatelets, such as aspirin and clopidogrel, keep platelets from clumping together.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the different types of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-7c", "text": "MedlinePlus adds that antiplatelets are mainly taken by people who have had a heart attack or stroke.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the different types of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-8", "text": "MedlinePlus says blood thinners may interact with certain foods, medicines, vitamins and alcohol.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, How can I take blood thinners safely?" } ] }, { "id": "bt-9", "text": "MedlinePlus says regular blood tests may be needed to check how well the blood is clotting.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, How can I take blood thinners safely?" } ] } ] }, { "heading": "The bleeding trade-off", "statements": [ { "id": "bl-1", "text": "MedlinePlus says bleeding is the most common side effect of blood thinners.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bl-2", "text": "MedlinePlus adds that blood thinners can also cause an upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] }, { "id": "bl-3", "text": "NHLBI says blood thinners come with a risk of bleeding.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-oral-anticoagulation-prevents-stroke-in-af" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Medicines, Blood thinners" } ] }, { "id": "bl-4", "text": "MedlinePlus says it is important to have enough medicine to prevent clots but not so much that it causes bleeding.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, How can I take blood thinners safely?" } ] }, { "id": "bl-5", "text": "The NHLBI and MedlinePlus pages give no numbers for how much blood thinners reduce the chance of stroke or increase the chance of bleeding.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-oral-anticoagulation-prevents-stroke-in-af" } ] }, { "id": "bl-6", "text": "MedlinePlus gives its list of signs of serious bleeding as examples, and the list covers blood thinners in general, not only those used for AF.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, What are the side effects of blood thinners?" } ] } ] }, { "heading": "The left atrial appendage and its closure", "statements": [ { "id": "lao-1", "text": "NHLBI describes the left atrial appendage as a small sac within the wall of the left atrium.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery (fragment 1 of 2)" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery (fragment 2 of 2)" } ] }, { "id": "lao-2", "text": "The authors of the PROTECT AF trial write that embolic stroke in people with non-valvular AF is thought to be linked to clots in the left atrial appendage.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:pubmed-19683639-2026-10-14", "locator": "Abstract, BACKGROUND, sentence 1" } ] }, { "id": "lao-3", "text": "NHLBI describes closing off the appendage, which it says may be done during surgical ablation or other heart surgery, as a way to stop clots from forming there and causing a stroke in people who cannot take blood thinners.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery (fragment 1 of 2)" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery (fragment 2 of 2)" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery" } ] }, { "id": "lao-4", "text": "NHLBI cautions that closing the appendage completely can be hard, and that any leak leaves some clotting risk.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery" } ] }, { "id": "lao-5", "text": "In the PROTECT AF trial, 707 adults with non-valvular AF were randomly assigned to one of two groups.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-5a", "text": "One group had a WATCHMAN closure device placed and then stopped warfarin, and the other group took warfarin.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-5b", "text": "The adults in the trial each had at least one of these: a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, or an age of 75 or older.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-5c", "text": "MedlinePlus describes a transient ischemic attack (TIA) as a condition similar to a stroke, in which the blood supply to the brain is blocked for a short time.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-stroke-2026-10-15", "locator": "Summary, What are the types of stroke?" } ] }, { "id": "lao-6", "text": "The trial was reported in 2009, and this guide does not describe later versions of the device.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-7", "text": "The trial's main outcome was a combination of stroke, cardiovascular death and systemic embolism.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-7a", "text": "On that outcome, the device group met the trial's pre-set test for not being worse than warfarin by more than an agreed margin, and that margin allowed up to double the warfarin group's event rate.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:pubmed-19683639-2026-10-14", "locator": "Abstract, METHODS, sentence 4" } ] }, { "id": "lao-8", "text": "The range of possible results for the device compared with warfarin on that outcome included no difference, so the trial did not show that the device was better.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-9", "text": "Serious safety events, which included major bleeding, were more frequent with the device than with warfarin.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-10", "text": "The authors say the safety events in the device group mainly came from complications linked to the procedure.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" } ] }, { "id": "lao-11", "text": "The trial registry lists being eligible for long-term warfarin as a requirement and having a medical reason not to take warfarin as a reason to be left out.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:ctgov-nct00129545-2026-10-14", "locator": "protocolSection.eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria" } ] }, { "id": "lao-11a", "text": "So the trial did not test the device in people who have a medical reason not to take warfarin.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-protect-af-watchman-vs-warfarin" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:ctgov-nct00129545-2026-10-14", "locator": "protocolSection.eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria" } ] }, { "id": "fda-1", "text": "The US Food and Drug Administration approved the original WATCHMAN device on 13 March 2015.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" } ] }, { "id": "fda-2", "text": "The approval order says the device is meant to lower the risk of clots from the left atrial appendage in people with non-valvular AF.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" } ] }, { "id": "fda-3", "text": "These are people at increased risk for stroke and systemic embolism by a risk score (CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc) who are recommended for anticoagulation therapy.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" } ] }, { "id": "fda-4", "text": "They are also deemed by their physicians to be suitable for warfarin.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" } ] }, { "id": "fda-4a", "text": "In addition, they have an appropriate rationale to seek a non-drug alternative to warfarin, taking into account how safe and effective the device is compared with warfarin.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" } ] }, { "id": "fda-5", "text": "That is the original approval, and FDA records list many later supplements, including newer device versions, that this guide does not describe.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" } ] }, { "id": "diff-1", "text": "NHLBI describes closing off the appendage for people who cannot take blood thinners, but the 2015 FDA approval order for the original WATCHMAN device is for people who are suitable for warfarin and have a reason to seek an alternative.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery (fragment 2 of 2)" } ] }, { "id": "diff-2", "text": "This guide does not reconcile the two descriptions, and the sources read here do not explain the difference.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-fda-p130013-approval" }, { "snapshot_id": "cardio:nhlbi-af-treatment-2026-10-14", "locator": "Page body, Procedures or surgery (fragment 2 of 2)" } ] } ] }, { "heading": "What an ACC summary of the 2023 ACC/AHA guideline says", "statements": [ { "id": "g-1", "text": "The summary says the guideline supports estimating stroke risk with a validated score, and it names CHA2DS2-VASc, ATRIA and GARFIELD-AF as examples.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-acc-aha-2023-af-risk-score" } ] }, { "id": "g-2", "text": "The summary says the guideline favors direct oral anticoagulants over warfarin, with an exception for people who have mitral stenosis or a mechanical heart valve.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-acc-aha-2023-af-doac-preferred" } ] }, { "id": "g-3", "text": "The summary says that for people who could take an anticoagulant and have no other reason to take an antiplatelet medicine, the guideline does not recommend aspirin, alone or with clopidogrel, as a stand-in for anticoagulation to lower stroke risk.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-acc-aha-2023-af-aspirin-not-alternative" } ] }, { "id": "g-4", "text": "The summary says closing off the appendage with a device is reasonable (class 2a, a weaker grade than a full recommendation) for people whose CHA2DS2-VASc score is 2 or more and who have a medical reason not to take anticoagulants over the long term.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-acc-aha-2023-af-laao" } ] }, { "id": "g-5", "text": "It also says closure may reasonably be used in place of anticoagulation (class 2b, weaker still) for people whose stroke risk is moderate or high and who also face a high chance of serious bleeding while taking anticoagulants.", "cites": [ { "claim": "cardio:claim-acc-aha-2023-af-laao" } ] } ] } ], "checklists": [ { "heading": "Topics MedlinePlus raises about taking a blood thinner", "items": [ { "id": "ck-1", "text": "All of the medicines and supplements in use.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, How can I take blood thinners safely?" } ] }, { "id": "ck-2", "text": "Foods, vitamins and alcohol, which may interact with blood thinners.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, How can I take blood thinners safely?" } ] }, { "id": "ck-3", "text": "Whether regular blood tests are needed to check how well the blood is clotting.", "cites": [ { "snapshot_id": "cardio:medlineplus-blood-thinners-2026-10-14", "locator": "Summary, How can I take blood thinners safely?" } ] } ] } ], "questions": [ { "text": "How is my risk of stroke with AF estimated, and what does the result mean for my care?", "grounded_in": [ "stroke-3", "g-1" ] }, { "text": "Which kind of blood thinner is being considered for me, and why that one over the others?", "grounded_in": [ "bt-5", "g-2" ] }, { "text": "What bleeding risk comes with this blood thinner, and how will it be watched for?", "grounded_in": [ "bl-3", "bl-5" ] }, { "text": "Could my foods, other medicines, vitamins, supplements or alcohol interact with a blood thinner?", "grounded_in": [ "bt-8" ] }, { "text": "Will I need regular blood tests to check how well my blood is clotting?", "grounded_in": [ "bt-9" ] }, { "text": "How is aspirin different from the blood thinners used for AF?", "grounded_in": [ "bt-7", "g-3" ] }, { "text": "Who is a left atrial appendage closure device meant for, and how does that differ from taking a blood thinner?", "grounded_in": [ "lao-3", "diff-1" ] }, { "text": "What risks come with the closure procedure compared with long-term blood thinners?", "grounded_in": [ "lao-9", "lao-10" ] } ] }, "content_digest": "b9ac95d8094849ec9e9dbd56ddb0d05c19d086d3a5c7a7b3193c879983232e82", "review": { "content_digest": "b9ac95d8094849ec9e9dbd56ddb0d05c19d086d3a5c7a7b3193c879983232e82", "current": [], "conflicting": [], "stale": [], "inactive": [] }, "claims": [], "decisions": [], "milestones": [], "relationships": { "outgoing": [], "incoming": [] }, "page_path": "guides/afib-blood-thinners/", "context_path": "api/v1/context/cardio--guide-afib-blood-thinners.md" }