People with abnormal heart rhythms are at a higher risk of getting blood clots, which can cause a stroke. A blood-thinning medication may help. But some questions remain if these medications cause the bleeding.

Patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia, have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke or blood clots. Warfarin (Coumadin) has long been the gold standard in treatment. That could be changing.

Patients with certain types of atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia, are at a high risk of stroke and blood clots if they temporarily stop their blood thinning medication before surgery or permanently because of side effects.