Atrial fibrillation
and stroke

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. An estimated two million people suffer from it in Germany alone.

As the name suggests, atrial fibrillation is triggered in the so-called atria of the heart. Atrial fibrillation is often episodic and asymptomatic, which makes it difficult to diagnose. In addition, most people do not notice the condition.

Almost one in five strokes in Germany is caused by atrial fibrillation. That’s over 70,000 strokes a year, which often have a very severe course.

Most of these strokes would be preventable, as atrial fibrillation is easily treatable with modern medication. However, as only a small proportion of the population is routinely screened for atrial fibrillation, a significant number of people with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation can be assumed. This is why regular screening is so important.

Symptoms of a stroke can occur suddenly and include :

• Paralysis/severe paresthesia on one side of the body: especially one side of the face and/or one side of the arms and/or legs

• Severe headaches

• Speech disorders

• Visual disturbances on one or both sides

• Severe dizziness

• Loss of consciousness

What advantages does myritmo offer?

With myritmo, you can take part in state-of-the-art stroke prevention – with a certified top-class medical product.

• It is a fully-fledged 3-channel ECG – developed by doctors for you

• You receive your personalised findings, medically validated and evaluated by experienced cardiologists.

• No waiting time – no referral – no cables

The heart consists of four chambers. Small, regular electrical heart currents ensure a coordinated pumping function of the atria and ventricles. These heart currents normally originate from a natural pacemaker in the right atrium.

Atrial fibrillation leads to the activation of heart currents at other points in the atria. These additional heart currents cause an uncoordinated contraction of the heart walls of the atria. Atrial fibrillation develops.

Only some of these current impulses, the fibrillation waves, are transmitted to the ventricles. This causes the ventricles to beat irregularly. Among other things, this can lead to a very fast pulse (tachycardia). One consequence of atrial fibrillation can be a decrease in physical performance, triggered by the poorer pumping performance of the heart.

As the blood in the atria is circulated more poorly due to the fibrillation, it flows much more slowly in some areas. This can lead to the formation of blood clots. In the worst-case scenario, parts of the clot can break away and be flushed out into the body’s circulation.

If such a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, a stroke occurs. Strokes triggered by atrial fibrillation often have a very severe course and often lead to permanent damage, disability and death. More rarely, it can also lead to circulatory disorders in the arms, legs, kidneys or intestines.