Chances are, you learned that you have a patent foramen ovale (PFO) after you had an ischemic stroke. You are not alone. Nearly half of people whose strokes have no known cause also have a PFO.
Three things you should know about PFO and stroke:
1. Having a PFO can lead to stroke.
2. One stroke increases the risk of having another stroke.
3. Closing a PFO reduces the risk of having another stroke.
After Christine Lee’s stroke at age 33, her neurologist ordered a transesophageal echocardiogram to look for a PFO. Nearly 6 months after her first stroke, she had a TIA. Her neurologist then made a referral to an interventional cardiologist, and he recommended she get the PFO closure procedure within 7 days.
I’ve had so many emails from readers who say their neurologist won’t make that referral to an interventional cardiologist. They just won’t. They want to know the name of my cardiologist, because they’re so desperate.”
By closing your PFO, your doctor may be able to significantly reduce your risk of another stroke. Watch how the procedure works.
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