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��nti-coagulant drugs,
more commonly known
as blood thinners, can
reduce the risk of stroke by
more than 50 percent. However,
many people have concerns
about this treatment
because they worry about
dangerous bleeding after a
fall or other injury.
Blood thinners are most
commonly used in the treatment
of atrial fibrillation
(AF), a condition affecting
more than 1.5 million Americans
over the age of 65. AF
can cause irregular heartbeats,
which may result in
the formation of blood clots.
If a blood vessel in the brain
becomes blocked with a clot,
oxygenated blood cannot to
pass to other areas in the
brain, and this can cause a
stroke. Blood thinners work
to prevent the blood from
clotting.
According to Emil Baccash,
M.D., an attending physician
at NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist
Hospital who specializes in
geriatric medicine, research
COURIER L 48 IFE, OCT. 18-24, 2019
shows that the risk of dangerous
bleeding is usually not
great enough to avoid bloodthinning
medications.
“You would have to
injure yourself or fall more
than 200 times a year to justify
not taking blood thinners
prescribed for atrial fibrillation,”
Dr. Baccash said.
“Even If your blood is thin, if
there are no openings or defects
in your blood vessels,
you are not going to bleed.
Overall, the benefits far outweigh
the risks.”
Although dangerous bleeding
while on blood thinners
is uncommon, it is important
to be aware of any condition
that may create a higher risk
of injury. Take extra precaution
to avoid falls: use a cane
or walker if necessary; keep
your pathways free of clutter
and use a nightlight to
ensure that you can see what
lies ahead. If a fall occurs,
keep an eye on any bruises
that develop. If the bruises
continue to grow, or if you
are feeling lightheaded, dizzy
or concerned in any way, call
a physician.
Although blood thinners
are often the most-effective
treatment to prevent blood
clots in patients with AF, Dr.
Baccash says that it is important
for a patient’s unique
medical history to be taken
into account when considering
the drug.
To schedule a consultation
with a medical geneticist at
NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital, please
call 718.499.2273.
Life insurance is a product few people
want to think about. That’s perfectly
understandable, as life insurance
forces men and women to consider
their own mortality. But life insurance
is not something adults should avoid,
especially if they have dependents.
Many people should consider life insurance
when estate planning so they
can provide security for their loved
ones. But life insurance is a purchase
unlike any other, and people may be
confused or intimidated when attempting
to purchase life insurance policies.
Deciding if you need
coverage
While life insurance seems like the
kind of thing every person should have,
that’s not necessarily the case. For example,
single men and women with no
dependents and no tax or debt concerns
generally do not need life insurance. If
you are single but have tax issues or a
considerable amount of debt, then a life
insurance policy can be used to pay
those debts upon your death.
Adults with dependents, such as a
spouse and children, should consider
purchasing life insurance, which can
help your surviving dependents maintain
their quality of life and pay their
bills in the wake of your death.
Buying life insurance
Much like various other types of
insurance, life insurance can be purchased
from an insurance agent or
via an insurance company’s website.
When choosing a company from which
to buy a life insurance policy, look for
a company with a strong rating, as no
one wants to end up being burned by a
life insurance provider who goes out of
business.
Some people prefer to work with independent
brokers who can share information
about products from various
providers rather
than just the ones offered
by the fi rm company-affi liated agents
work for.
Choosing coverage
When choosing coverage, you will
no doubt be asked if you prefer term insurance
or permanent insurance. Term
insurance is the least expensive life insurance,
and such policies only last for
a predetermined number of years. You
may purchase life insurance policies
if you only want life insurance until
you retire or until your children reach
adulthood.
Permanent insurance is more expensive
and will last from the moment you
purchase the policy until your death.
Many people choose permanent life
insurance policies so the money their
benefi ciaries receive upon their death
can be used to pay estate taxes. In addition,
there is an investment component
to permanent insurance policies, as a
portion of the premiums on such policies
is invested (policies will spell out
how the money is invested) and allowed
to grow tax-free so long as the policy is
open. Term insurance only provides
protection with no investments.
When choosing how much coverage
to purchase, it’s easy to go overboard
and aim for as much as possible. However,
many fi nancial advisors suggest
purchasing enough coverage to pay for
funeral costs and a level of income replacement
you can comfortably afford.
If your spouse does not work, you should
consider purchasing enough coverage
so he can afford to pay the family’s dayto
day cost of living expenses.
Life insurance merits serious consideration,
and adults should do their
homework and fully understand a policy
before signing any contracts.
Wellness
Understanding
life insurance