Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a condition where your heart beats irregularly. AFib affects more than 2 million people in the United States. In fact, among those over 65, it's the most common serious heart rhythm disorder.
If you have AFib, you are nearly 5 times more likely to suffer a stroke than someone who doesn't have this condition. In fact, about 15 percent of all strokes that occur in the United States occur in people with AFib. And, strokes that occur in people who have AFib are usually more severe—and can be about twice as likely to be fatal or severely disabling..
Explore the pages in this section to learn more about AFib, and how it’s connected to stroke:
Get the facts about AFib, including how it’s diagnosed and treated, and how it’s connected to stroke.
Find out how a blood clot can form in your heart and travel to your brain to cause a stroke. Plus, get tips for how to identify the warning signs of stroke—and what to do if a stroke occurs.
What Are the Effects of Stroke?
Strokes associated with AFib can be about twice as likely to be fatal or severely disabling. Learn more about the potentially devastating effects of stroke.
