StrokeSurvivorBlog

For the last 3 weeks Steve has been taking an anti-coagulant to thin his blood, either Warfarin or Apixaban. A blood thinner is necessary because the atrial fibrillation causes pooling of his blood in the left ventricle of his heart. This can result in blood clots, which in turn can cause another stroke. If the blood is thinned, the chance of [...]

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. These episodes usually last 10 seconds or more and occur repeatedly throughout the night. People with sleep apnea will partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they will not be aware of the disturbances in their [...]

Having a swallowing disorder (dysphagia) is a symptom that accompanies a number of neurological disorders. The problem can occur at any stage of the normal swallowing process as food and liquid move from the mouth, down the back of the throat, through the esophagus and into the stomach. This is a condition my husband Steve had [...]

Thank you for your prayers regarding Steve’s last test. Everything went well with the colonoscopy and he was cleared to start the 3 1/2 yr. clinical trial with the anti-coagulant. On June 8 he received the first dose, but we don’t know if it was Coumadin or the experimental drug, Apixaban. All subsequent EKGs have shown that he [...]

When it comes to using medicines, there is no such thing as completely safe. All medicines have risks. FDA approval of a drug simply means that the bene­fits outweigh the known risks. Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists and you make up your health care team. To reduce the risks related to using medicines and to [...]

You can walk into any pharmacy, grocery or convenience store and buy aspirin without a prescription. The Drug Facts label on medication products, will help you choose aspirin for relieving headache, pain, swelling, or fever. The Drug Facts label also gives directions that will help you use the aspirin so that it is safe and [...]

There are certain requirements which must be met to be eligible to participate in a clinical study. These requirements are based on such factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous and current treatments, and other medical conditions. Medical insurance is not required to participate in clinical studies or to receive [...]