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.
