At this moment of realizing you are having a stroke, we all have this one thing in common

In this post: A spotlight on Hailey Bieber’s “mini”stroke (TIA or transient ischemic attack) and PFO Closure. What is this condition and what caused her stroke? In her video, “telling my story” Hailey shares: What were her stroke warning signs, acting FAST, her stroke score, testing and diagnosis (bubble echo study, and trans cranial doppler), …

PFO Post Closure ” Do I take these pills for life? “

Once a hole in the heart is plugged with a PFO closure device the common question asked by patients is how long does one need to continue antiplatelet therapy?   According to a new analysis reported in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, long-term follow-up of patients who underwent patent foramen ovale (PFO) …

FDA Circulatory System Devices Panel Votes to Approve Amplatzer PFO Occluder

Post by David Dansereau,MSPT Know-Stroke.org On May 24,2016 I provided patient testimony at the Circulatory System Device Panel at the FDA along with Bray Patrick-Lake and Peggy Mahrt of the PFO Research Foundation and several other patients who also traveled to Washington DC to share their stories.   I wanted to share my FDA  testimony …

A Year in Review- Still No Closure on PFO Closure!!

 PFO Closure Progress: Still in the Dark Ages? These PFO posts still remain two of my most popular posts in 2014 according to WordPress site stats for “Year in Review” which makes me sad actually because it probably means folks are still looking for closure on PFO closure (2 years after the original PFO closure/”Dark …

On May 1st I received Closure on the Question of PFO Closure

My percutaneous closure to repair a PFO Yes, you already may know “MAY” is National Stroke Awareness Month.  What you may not know is May 1st will always have a different meaning for me.  On May 1st, 2007 I had heart surgery or percutaneous closure to repair a PFO (patent foramen ovale) that is believed …

Tragic case of Death by Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in a Young Soccer Player

This tragedy once again points to the need for better heart and cardiovascular screening and awareness of congenital heart defects in our young athletes. – David Dansereau,MSPT  know-stroke.org As reported in the March 2013 Journal of Invasive Cardiology  (J INVASIVE CARDIOL 2013;25(3):162-164) Abstract: A 34-year-old male patient was referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment …

Notre Dame’s Hegarty sidelined by stroke from “holes” in heart

Attention: Athletes- Parents- Coaches- Trainers – KNOW-STROKE !! “I hope Matt makes a quick return to the game he loves. I also sincerely hope the sports community in particular hear Matt’s stroke story and realize that stroke can happen to young athletes.  Finally, I urge trainers, parents, coaches AND physicians NOT to simply sit on …

PFO Patients Still Not getting RESPECT

While the medical community sits quietly waiting to hear the results of the RESPECT  clinical trial data, PFO patients suffer from the ongoing uncertainty of this PFO paradox.-DP Dansereau know-stroke.org I was about to start my day this morning when I took a call from a stroke survivor who was trying to understand why her …

Is PFO closure Back in the “Dark Ages”?

Are Closure Devices for Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) safe? Do they offer a better quality of life over medical management? Should you exercise with/without closure? What exercises are safe? Can you have sex with a PFO? Should you fly? Is scuba safe? Is device erosion a real risk? Will my …

Will VH1 show Bret Michaels’ PFO Closure?

According to About.com’s surgery blog Bret Michael’s is scheduled to undergo PFO closure in January.  In this quick poll, I’d like to know how you think VH1 and Bret Michael’s new show Life As I Know It will address the controversial medical topic of PFO closure. Should VH1 show Bret’s PFO surgery and discuss the …