Blood Clot in heart

I am male 57 years old and exercise regulary.  I discovered high (up to 196 bpm at moder effort) and irregular heart rythm using a heart rate monitor as I started training for upcoming cycling season.I was diagnosed with Afib a week and a half ago.  A small blood clot was found in the Left Atrial Appendage by esphogeal echo cardiogram.  No underlying hear disease was found except some thickening of heart walls.

Since the diagonis, I have been execising moderately on a stationary bike while waiting for the Coumaden to help dissolve the blood clot prior to electro cardioversion in another 3 to 7 weeks.

Does this execise with a know blood clot (descrived as small)  increase the risk of stroke?  (heart rate varies from 125 to 190 at exertion level which would have caused 110 to 135 prior to AFib)

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I am unaware of data that suggests that exercise increases the risk of strokes when there is a known clot in the left atrial appendage, but I doubt the study has been done.  It is unlikely that there have been enough people in that situation to answer the question in a study.

Thanks for posting.