For the first time, more than 1.5 million Brits have been diagnosed with a heart condition that increases the risk of stroke by four to five times.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition that causes an irregular and often fast heart rate that can lead to blood clots. The number of people in the UK diagnosed with it has increased from one million in 2013, report the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Also known as a-fib, it is believed to contribute to one in five strokes, yet some people living with it will experience no symptoms. Although it is not usually life threatening, atrial fibrillation is a serious condition and often requires treatment.
What is atrial fibrillation?
With atrial fibrillation, your heart rate is irregular and it can beat quite rapidly. It is the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm and it is believed to contribute to one in five strokes, reports Wales Online.
The condition can affect people of any age, but it's more common in older people and men. It is more likely to occur in people with other conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), atherosclerosis or a heart valve problem.
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation
The irregular heartbeat of atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms including dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness. Your heartbeat may feel like it's pounding or fluttering and the NHS says episodes can last for seconds or as long as a few minutes.
In addition to increased risk of stroke, a-fib also raises the risk of heart failure and other heart-related complications, writes the Mayo Clinic.
It's possible not to know you have the condition as some people experience no symptoms, meaning they are unaware of their increased risk of stroke.
Atrial fibrillation on the rise
The BHF has said better recognition and diagnosis of the condition is likely to be the key factor behind the rise in the number of people known to have atrial fibrillation.
The new total means that one in 45 people in the UK are known to be living with the condition, but there are an estimated 270,000 people in the UK who remain undiagnosed and unaware.
The charity said further research is needed to find new ways to identify people who are at risk so they can be diagnosed earlier.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the BHF, said: "These figures show a quite astonishing rise in the number of people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
"Research has helped us understand the links between atrial fibrillation and stroke and that has spurred the efforts we have seen in recent years to identify people with this potentially dangerous heart rhythm.
"What remains troubling is the sheer number of people who are undiagnosed and unaware that they are living with a heightened risk of stroke. Finding people with this hidden threat must remain a priority."
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