“Do blood thinners prevent stroke?”

In some cases patients need to be on blood thinners to prevent stroke. However, that should not be taken lightly! Blood thinners can be dangerous medications and should only be used in specific cases. For example, if a patient has atrial fibrillation, that is a reason to use the medication. In other cases they may use antiplatelets like aspirin or Plavix. You can bring this to your primary doctor and discuss your concerns and whether additional workup should be done in your case given your family history

Yes blood thinners can decrease the risk of stroke

Hello, Oftentimes, yes. Research shows that blood thinners prevent certain types of stroke (ischemic or blood clot strokes) in patients who have high risk factors present. However it is important to talk to your primary doctor, cardiologist or neurologist (whoever is prescribing the blood thinner medication) to see if this is right for you, as it can increase the chance of other types of stroke (hemorrhagic) from worsening if this was to happen. Hopefully this helps! Best, Aleka Scoco, MD

There are many reasons people have strokes.  Some are due to traveling blood clots, the risk of which can be mitigated by the use of aspirin. However, consult with your doctor before starting any new medication.

Yes, so-called "blood thinners" do not really "thin" the blood but generally fall into two categories. One is anticoagulants like warfarin and Eliquis and another type is anti-platelet agents like aspirin. Platelets are blood elements that begin the process of blood coagulation. Usually, depending on your age and overall health, blood thinners would not be recommended for someone in good health despite a family history of strokes. You should discuss your concerns with your primary care physician, who may refer you to a specialist depending on your health and detailed family history.