About Atrial Fibrillation - Microlife WatchBP Home N Instruction Manual

About Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm problem.
It affects more than 2 million people in North America.
It is more common in older age and is found in 10%
of people over 80 years old. It is a common cause of
strokes. About 15% of all strokes are caused by atrial
fibrillation.
The elderly or those with high blood pressure, diabetes
or heart disease are more likely to get a stroke if they
have atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a rhythm problem that can last from
a few minutes, too days, weeks or even years. Atrial
fibrillation can cause blood clots in the upper chambers
of the heart (the atria). These clots can break off and
flow to the brain causing a stroke.
The use of blood thinners, such as warfarin, can
lower the risk of a stroke in patients with atrial
fibrillation.
A doctor can confirm if atrial fibrillation is present
by performing an ECG. Sometimes Atrial fibrillation
is present incidentally. Therefore, a doctor may not
see it on regularly scheduled visits.
One method of detecting atrial fibrillation is by
means of palpitations during blood pressure
measurement. This method is not very reliable.
Failure to detect Afib may in the end lead to the
occurrence of a stroke; whereas early detection may
lead to early treatment that can significantly reduce
the chances of a stroke.
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