WebMD Answers
A-fib, as it's often called, is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting about 2.2 million Americans. It occurs when electrical impulses do not travel in an orderly fashion through the upper parts of the heart resulting in an irregular heart rhythm.
As a result, blood does not flow through the upper chambers of the heart as it should. This allows blood to pool and form clots that can travel to the brain, causing a stroke.
People with atrial fibrillation face five times the risk of stroke as the general population. The risk increases with age.
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