Sometimes in medicine, what seems like common sense isn't backed up by data. For a long time, a common heart defect called patent foramen ovale -- or PFO -- has been linked to a higher risk of stroke. About a quarter of the adult population has the condition but most don't experience any symptoms. It's basically a hole in the heart, which occurs when a flap-like opening between the upper chambers of the heart doesn't close during normal fetal development and which may allow a blood clot to get through to the brain more easily. Data showing that PFO causes stroke are shaky, so ...
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Is It Safe to Fix a Hole in the Heart?
Sometimes in medicine, what seems like common sense isn't backed up by data. For a long time, a common heart defect called patent foramen ovale -- or PFO -- has been linked to a higher risk of stroke. About a quarter of the adult population has the condition but most don't experience any symptoms. It's basically a hole in the heart, which occurs when a flap-like opening between the upper chambers of the heart doesn't close during normal fetal development and which may allow a blood clot to get through to the brain more easily. Data showing that PFO causes stroke are shaky, so ...
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