Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes an abnormal, sometimes fast pulse, and is the most common heart rhythm disturbance. It occurs when electrical impulses controlling the heart’s natural rhythm lose co-ordination.
People with AF have a four or five times higher risk of stroke because it increases the risk of a blood clot forming in the chambers of the heart. The condition is responsible for 22,500 strokes a year in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Nursing Standard. 28, 27, 18-18. doi: 10.7748/ns2014.03.28.27.18.s25
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