In the United States, there are approximately 2.3 million patients with atrial fibrillation, and the number of patients with atrial fibrillation in China is estimated at more than 10 million. Atrial fibrillation occurs mainly in older adults with cardiovascular disease, and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in people over 70 years of age is higher than 5%. As the population ages and the survival rate of patients with cardiovascular disease increases, atrial fibrillation will become one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases in the future. Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart muscle loses its normal, regular diastolic activity and is replaced by rapid, uncoordinated, weak peristalsis, resulting in a loss of normal, effective contraction of the atria. Atrial fibrillation is a very common cardiac arrhythmia, second only to premature beats. Despite the fact that AF is a serious condition with a high risk, 1/4 of patients do not understand or cannot explain what AF is, and only 1/3 of patients are concerned about it. A survey of 1,600 cardiologists and patients in 11 countries, including China, revealed a lack of patient understanding of AF, its consequences and treatment options. Clinical symptoms of AF are varied and present in different ways. Some patients with atrial fibrillation have no obvious clinical symptoms or have very mild symptoms that are often overlooked by patients and families. So, why does atrial fibrillation cause brain embolism? Deputy Director Hu Xitian said: Atrial fibrillation when the heart beats abnormally, the rhythm is disturbed, resulting in blood stagnation and slow blood flow, resulting in easy formation of blood clots. According to statistics, the annual incidence of cerebral infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation is more than 7%, which is 5 to 17 times higher than that of those without atrial fibrillation. Most of the early stages of atrial fibrillation are paroxysmal, and most of the late stages are persistent and lifelong. One of the major pitfalls of atrial fibrillation is the susceptibility to thrombosis within the heart, primarily in the atrial ears. The left atrium in particular is narrower and more curved than the right atrium, and has a more developed comb-like muscle that makes its inner wall relatively rougher and blood flows more slowly through it, making it the most likely place for thrombus formation. As long as atrial fibrillation persists for 48 hours, the incidence of thrombus in the auricle increases dramatically. Fresh thrombus is very brittle and can be dislodged at any time and “rocket up” through the aorta to the carotid artery and then to the cerebral artery where embolism occurs, so most of the thrombus flowing to the brain originates in the left heart ear. Anticoagulation therapy to prevent atrial fibrillation embolism How to detect atrial fibrillation early? Hu Xitian, deputy director, said: first of all, we should be vigilant, annual physical examination, for patients found to have frequent premature beats, short bouts of atrial tachycardia, to check the 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram, early detection of atrial fibrillation. To learn to feel the pulse, once the pulse is not uniform, feel not clear hurry to do electrocardiogram nearby, a clear diagnosis. After a clear diagnosis must go to a regular hospital to receive regular antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic treatment to avoid a repeat of the above patient’s tragedy.