The mystery of atrial fibrillation: an under-appreciated cause of stroke. Many people think that stroke only occurs in patients with atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, or hypertension, but in fact, many strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation. What is atrial fibrillation? This is the normal heartbeat This is how an atrial fibrillation heart beats Wow! There are so many people with atrial fibrillation! The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the elderly population is about 10%, and more people between the ages of 50 and 60 also have atrial fibrillation. What are the dangers of atrial fibrillation? 1, stroke: atrial fibrillation patients are very easy to form thrombus in the atria, thrombus off can cause a stroke. Patients with atrial fibrillation have a five times higher chance of having a stroke than other people. 2, heart failure: atrial fibrillation continues to cause heart enlargement, heart beat bleeding, reduced heart contraction, resulting in heart failure, shortness of breath after the disease into the activity, quality of life, severe heart failure, even unable to move, forced to hospital 3, there are other: atrial fibrillation is prone to lower limb embolism, quality of life, and even life accidents. What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation? (1) Palpitations: feeling of heartbeat, heartbeat disturbance or rapid heartbeat, physical fatigue or exertion; (2) Vertigo: dizziness or fainting; (3) Chest discomfort: pain, pressure or discomfort; (4) Shortness of breath: feeling breathless during light physical activity or at rest; (5) Many patients have no symptoms and are only found to have atrial fibrillation when they have a stroke or heart failure. How do you find out you have atrial fibrillation? It’s easy! Just go to the hospital and get an electrocardiogram. If it is paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, you need an ambulatory ECG. Older adults should have an EKG once a year.