A brand new procedure performed at Florida Hospital’s Pepin Heart Institute is helping prevent strokes in heart patients.

It’s called the Watchman Procedure. Doctors insert the device into the patient’s heart and it prevents blood clots from reaching the brain.

"These clots cannot come out of this area and cannot go to the brain and cause strokes," Dr. Asad Sawar said.

Wanda Martin was the first patient to get the Watchman. She suffers from Atrial Fibrillation. Martin said she feels the effects of her condition every day.

“I'm tired I have shortness of breath I usually stay in my room," Martin said.

Martin is still in recovery but said she can already tell the procedure will be life changing.

Doctors believe many A-Fib patients can benefit from the procedure.

For more information: FHTampa.org/Watchman.