If you suffer from Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), your risk of experiencing a stroke, unfortunately, increases. Furthermore, the complications from a stroke can be especially problematic for AFib patients, which is why your cardiologist will want to take measures to assess your specific risk of stroke. This measurement is known as your CHADSVASC score.
Understanding CHADSVASC Scoring
CHADSVASC is a long acronym that refers to the various factors influencing your risk of stroke as an AFib patient. Specifically, your CHADSVASC score runs on a sliding scale from 0-10, and is made up of the following factors:
- Congestive Heart Failure (one point)
- High blood pressure (one point)
- Age (two points if above 75)
- Diabetes (one point)
- Previous stroke or clot (two points)
- Vascular disease (one point)
- Age (one point if between 65 and 74)
- Sex (one point if female)
The higher your CHADSVASC score, the more statistically likely you are to have a stroke. The purpose of this score is for your cardiologist to determine your specific risk factors and make recommendations for lowering your risk.
Tips to Reduce Your Score
The good news is that there are steps you can take to potentially lower you CHADSVASC score. For example, if diabetes runs in your family but you don’t have the condition, taking measures to reduce your risk of diabetes can help to keep your score from climbing, such as a diet and exercise. Of course, there are some aspects of your CHADSVASC that you have no control over, such as your age or sex (females with AFib are at a higher risk of stroke).
Or, if you suffer from high blood pressure, getting your blood pressure under control is one of the best steps you can take to reduce your CHADSVASC score and your risk for stroke. Specifically, blood pressure can be reduced by losing weight, exercising more frequently, eating healthier, and potentially going on blood pressure medication (if recommended and prescribed by your doctor).
Schedule an Appointment With Us
If you have AFib but have not yet received a CHADSVASC score from your cardiologist, schedule an appointment with our team at Heart Rhythm Consultants P.A. to get started. Board certified cardiac electrophysiologist, Dr. Dilip Mathew, is here to help you improve your overall health and wellness by controlling your risk of stroke and other health problems associated with AFib.