Anticoagulant therapy significantly lowers stroke risk in patients with mechanical heart valves by preventing blood clots. However, it increases the risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulation with drugs like warfarin is crucial for preventing clots in mechanical valve patients, effectively reducing stroke risk. Main risk is elevated bleeding.

Using anticoagulants in mechanical valve patients decreases stroke incidences by preventing clot formation at the valve site, but raises bleeding complications risk.