Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation: An Integrated Study

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) refers to a condition of an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. In this condition, heart's upper chamber shakes and quiver and does not squeeze and contract as it should. A-fib increases the risk of heart failure, stroke and other heart-related problems. Patients with A-fib are more likely to develop dementia and the occurrence of both conditions increases with age. A stroke is a life-threatening medical disorder, which occurs when the blood supply to a portion of the brain is cut off. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. In a situation, where a blood clot escapes from left atrial appendage and reaches the other part of the body, it can cut off the blood supply of the brain which causes a stroke. This book provides comprehensive insights into stroke, dementia and atrial fibrillation. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. This book is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.