Irregular Heartbeat and Stroke Risk: Atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, is one of the most common heart diseases worldwide and is also a major cause of stroke. The number of people suffering from this disease has increased rapidly in the last few decades. Between 1990 and 2021, cases worldwide increased by 57%, deaths increased by 71%, and disability increased by 62%. Therefore, preventing stroke in people who already have this disease is the most important task.
In this disease the heartbeat becomes irregular. Due to this, blood does not flow properly in the upper parts of the heart and the risk of blood clot formation increases. This clot can go to any part of the body through the blood vessels. If it reaches the veins of the brain, the brain stops getting blood and a stroke can occur.
Heart rate improvement feels good, but it’s not enough
Normalizing the heartbeat is an essential part of the treatment of this disease. This can be done with medications or a procedure like ablation. This reduces problems like nervousness, breathlessness and fatigue. But reducing the symptoms does not mean that the risk of stroke also goes away.
hidden danger
This disease sometimes comes without any symptoms, silently for a short period of time. The patient may not even realize it, but even in these silent attacks, blood clots can form just as much as in symptomatic attacks. Apart from this, in some cases this disease also causes permanent changes in the structure of the heart. In such a situation, even after the heartbeat comes under control, there may still be a risk of clot formation.
Real safety: blood thinners
The most reliable way to prevent stroke is anticoagulation therapy, that is, medicines that keep the blood thin and prevent clot formation. The decision to start this medicine is based on the patient’s age and other diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart weakness, nerve disease or previous stroke. This medicine should be taken if the risk of stroke is moderate or high, whether or not the heartbeat is under control.
Complete treatment is necessary simultaneously
To prevent stroke, just correcting the heartbeat is not enough. Along with this, it is equally important to adopt a healthy lifestyle including taking blood thinners, keeping blood pressure and sugar under control, and weight control. By improving the heartbeat, the patient feels better and the quality of life improves. But prevention of stroke is a long process and it is very important to reduce the serious complications of this disease.
Dr. Karthikeya Bhargava, Senior Director, Electrophysiology, Cardiac Care, Medanta, Gurugram
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