There have been adverts on the television showing people what to look out for when a person is having a stroke. This campaign is about getting people who are suffering a stroke quicker medical treatment and letting the public know how important fast action is to reduce the impact of a stroke.
The latest thing to be aware of is the link between Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and strokes, if you suffer from AF then you need to consult your GP on how that affects your risk of getting a stroke and the preventative steps that can be taken.
AF affects about 750,000 people in the UK and accounts for about one in six strokes, but AF related strokes can be prevented because once your GP is aware of your situation he can give you the right medication.
AF's most common symptom is a fast and irregular heartbeat. An irregular heartbeat is also known as an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia.
The symptoms of AF are:
- Palpitations - this means you become aware of your heart. You may feel it beating in a fast and irregular way.
- Dizziness.
- Angina (chest pains) may develop. In particular, the pains tend to occur when you exert yourself, but may even occur when resting.
- Breathlessness is often the first symptom that develops. It may occur all the time, but you may become breathless when you exert yourself, doing a bit of gardening or walking up the stairs.
