Page 2 - The fayetteville Press Newspaper Apri l& May 2025

Page 2 The Fayetteville Press April/May 2025 Edition

Dr. Mark Stephen Thompson, D.D.S.

(Family Dentistry)

114 Campus Avenue * Raeford, NC 28376
Digial Marketing
Strategy & Brand Development
Web Design & Development
(910) 875-3625
Print & Media Services (910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
Public Relations &
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
Engagement (910) 875-3622
Kirk Deviere
Owner

Contact Information Dr. Mark Thompson
Sales@219group.com (910) 875-3622

(910) 483-4749/ 219group.com

Express Tax Services
Tax Service

5114 Yadkin Road *Ste 132

Fayetteville, NC 28303

Walter Bell
*Past Due

Income Tax Returns

Up to 10 Years

(910) 583-9547
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: Taking stroke risk to heart

Treatment
Having atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, puts
If your doctor confirms that you have AFib, the AHA
you at risk for stroke. But treatment can lower that risk.
recommends treating it aggressively. Medication to help
A stroke is sometimes called a brain attack. But for some
prevent blood clots may be prescribed. Other possible
people, the origins of stroke can actually be traced to another
treatments include:
of the body’s major organs – the heart.
Medication to slow your heart rate or help restore a normal
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 15%
heart rhythm.
to 20% of strokes are linked to atrial fibrillation (AFib), a
heart rhythm disorder that will affect more than 12 million A pacemaker to regulate heart rhythm.
Americans by 2030.
Electrical cardioversion, a procedure in which an electric

In AFib, the electrical signals that coordinate the muscles of shock is used to restore the heart’s rhythm.
the heart’s two upper chambers, the atria, become rapid and
Surgery to disrupt the electrical signals that lead to AFib.
disorganized. As a result, the atria quiver instead of beating
as they should. This causes blood to pool, enabling clots to Radiofrequency ablation, a procedure done to destroy tissue
form. If part of a clot leaves the heart, it may block the flow of that triggers abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal

blood to the brain and cause a stroke. electrical pathways.

Who’s affected? If your Afib is not caused by a heart valve problem, and blood
Other heart problems or high blood pressure increases thinners are not recommended, there is a new treatment,
a person’s risk for the condition. Lung problems, thyroid now available at Cape Fear Valley Heart & Vascular Center.
disorders, heavy alcohol consumption, smoking and use of
TM
It’s called the WATCHMAN . WATCHMAN is a one-
stimulant drugs, including caffeine, can increase risk as well.
time, minimally invasive procedure in which a device
In many cases, however, the cause of AFib remains unknown.
is implanted into your heart. The device fits right in to
Symptoms the left atrial appendage of your heart and is designed
It’s possible to have AFib without realizing it. But some to premanently close it off to keep blood clots from
people might notice their heart racing or flopping in their escaping. To implant WATCHMAN, a doctor makes a
chest. small cut in your upper thigh and inserts a narrow tube,

as done in a standard stent procedure. The procedure is
Other possible signs may include:
done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour.
• Dizziness
Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight.
• Chest pain or pressure
• Sweating Treatment may lower your stroke risk significantly, the AHA
• Difficulty catching your breath reports. Learn more at capefearvalley.com/heart.

• Weakness
• Fatigue during exercise

If you have these symptoms, it’s important to bring them to
your doctor’s attention promptly.

capefearvalley.com

th
nd
Join us for Making Rounds Live on the 2 and 4 Tuesdays every month, from 11 a.m. to Noon, on