Scientists have discovered a new technique that could help reduce the risk of stroke.
There is a pouch located on the upper left side of the heart called the left atrial appendage. When the heart beats irregularly, blood does not flow normally and instead collects and stagnates in this pouch, leading to the formation of blood clots.
If even one of these clots escapes, it can travel to the brain, block blood flow, and cause a stroke.
Researchers have recently introduced a new technique in which a magnetically guided liquid is delivered into the heart, which tightly seals the pouch from the inside.
Initial testing of this technique, which has so far only been conducted on animals, has shown that it may one day reduce the risk of stroke in people suffering from atrial fibrillation.
Currently, treatments for this condition are effective but have certain drawbacks. Most patients are given blood thinning medications, which reduce the ability of blood to clot and lower the risk of stroke.
However, a major downside of these medications is bleeding, which can be dangerous for individuals with complex medical conditions.
