The Stroke Association and BBC Morning Live's Dr Punam Krishan are urging people to check for a 'silent condition' which is one of the leading causes of serious strokes, after a survey showed that few are aware of the link.
It is estimated that around half a million people are living with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), where the heart beats with an irregular rhythm. This prevents the heart from emptying all of the blood out of its chambers with every beat and the leftover blood can form clots which travel to the brain, blocking off blood flow and causing a stroke.
One woman who has experienced the impact of this is Mia Fox, from Newcastle, who had a stroke caused by AF in June 2022. After feeling unwell and collapsing at home, Mia became dazed and paralysed on her right side.
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She struggled alone for 16 hours, believing she was going to die, but was unaware she had had a stroke. The 56-year-old eventually managed to text a friend who realised from her jumbled messages something was seriously wrong and called for an ambulance.
Days later in hospital, following numerous tests, Mia was diagnosed with AF, which had caused her stroke, and heart failure.
Mia said: "I hadn't known about having AF at all, I'd never noticed any signs. Before I had my stroke I'd just finished an intense six-week exercise programme. I was fine. My stroke was out of the blue and I didn't know what was happening."
She added: "At first, after my stroke, I couldn't get words out but my speech did come back quite quickly and was quite good, when I remembered the words. The movement in my right arm and right leg came back. The doctor told me my recovery was incredible after having such a severe stroke."
Mia, who has been a University Chaplain for over 17 years, led an active lifestyle and had no idea she had the condition prior to her stroke. Following the stroke she has had to undergo surgery to have an implantable cardio defibrillator (ICD) fitted.
She has continued to make huge progress in her recovery post-stroke and has now returned to work full time. She also attends cardiac rehabilitation sessions and is receiving support to come to terms emotionally with all that has happened.
She is now backing a Stroke Association campaign to raise awareness of the connection between AF and stroke.
Mia said: "I had exceptional care following my stroke from occupational therapists, a physiotherapist and speech and language therapist. My speech still isn’t 100 percent. I still trip over the odd word and can’t always get the words out quickly enough (I can’t banter anymore!) but there is still room for further improvement.
"The biggest thing is my energy levels and stamina. I get fatigued quite quickly. My legs can go to jelly, but the stamina is definitely improving.
"I had no idea about AF and that it was a stroke risk factor before my stroke. If you have a digital watch which can flag up signs of AF or notice something unusual, then don't ignore it. People need to understand that stroke doesn’t just happen to older people. It can happen at any age."
A survey by The Stroke Association to mark Stroke Prevention Day on Thursday 12 January revealed that almost three in four people (73%) did not know that AF is a major cause of stroke. AF is linked to around one in five strokes (40 per day) and strokes in people with AF are more severe and are more likely to result in death or serious disability.
Juliet Bouverie OBE, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, said: "It's worrying that so few people know that a little thing like how your heart beats can lead to a massive stroke.
"AF often has no symptoms and a stroke can strike without warning. Don’t let the first sign of your AF be a sudden and life-changing stroke. With early diagnosis and effective management of AF, your risk of a stroke dramatically decreases so it’s vital to get checked regularly.
"It's really easy to check your own pulse and our research told us that most people are able to. Feel for your pulse on your wrist or neck to make sure it has a regular beat. If you suspect you have an irregular pulse, contact your GP Practice."
The survey also revealed that six in ten (62%) said they had never checked themselves for AF and almost half (44%) said they had never been checked for AF by a healthcare professional.
More than eight in ten (83%) said they would be likely to seek medical advice if they felt something was wrong with the rhythm of their heartbeat/pulse. And 55% said they knew someone who had had a stroke, while 26% knew someone who had had AF.
The charity has a video guide on its website showing people how they can check their own pulse on their wrist or neck. The video can be accessed here.
Dr Punam Krishan, a Glasgow GP and presenter on BBC Morning Live, said: "The good news is that if AF is identified it can be managed really easily. If you've got AF, you might be given anticoagulant medication to reduce your risk of stroke by making a clot less likely to form, or you might be able to have a one-time electric pulse to get your heart beating regularly.
"The most important thing is to check yourself and contact your GP practice if you think you might have AF. It's so much better to get your AF sorted before it becomes a problem. Get it checked for your own health and for the sake of your loved ones."
Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder of the AF Association, said: "The AF Association welcomes Stroke Prevention Day to help detect more people living with AF, yet to be diagnosed. Raising awareness of the importance of pulse checks is key to detecting the irregular heart rhythm and leading to more people being diagnosed and receiving appropriate anticoagulation therapy to reduce their risk of an AF-related stroke.
"It is good to see the Stroke Association encouraging the public to be pulse aware to know their heart rhythm – this can save so many from the devastation that strokes can cause, it can even save lives."
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