WASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- A new survey released Wednesday suggests most Americans are unaware of one of the strongest risk factors for stroke.
Although over 60 percent of those polled knew atrial fibrillation is a form of irregular heartbeat, 81 percent were unaware it is a major cause of stroke, the survey said.
The survey was conducted by the non-profit Alliance for Aging Research.
"Over 2.2 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation and their chances of suffering a stroke increases with age," said Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research. "With the unprecedented aging of the Baby Boomer population, it is imperative that Americans make the connection between atrial fibrillation and stroke and take the appropriate actions necessary to prevent what could be a life-altering, or life-ending, event."
For those suffering atrial fibrillation, the two upper chambers of the heart, called the atria, quiver instead of contracting effectively. When this happens, blood in these chambers can pool and clot. If this clot becomes loose and travels to the brain, it may cause a debilitation stroke.
Such patients are five times more likely to suffer a stroke than those without atrial fibrillation, the survey said.
