Sometimes part of the heart wall expands or bulges when it should contract. These aneurysms don't rupture, but they may cause episodes of irregular heartbeats and may diminish the heart's pumping ability. Because blood flows more slowly through aneurysms, blood clots can form in the heart's chambers. Blood Clots Clots form in the heart in 20 to 60 percent of people who've had a heart attack. An echocardiogram may be taken to detect clots forming in the heart or to see if a person has predisposing factors, such as an area of the heart's left ventricle that isn't beating as well as it should.
Doctors often prescribe anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin to help prevent clot formation.
These medications are usually taken for 3 to 6 months after a heart attack. All rights reserved.