A group of 29 medical experts from around the world says that checking for high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems at the same time could help prevent thousands of strokes.
Their review shows a strong connection between two common heart problems—high blood pressure (also called hypertension) and atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition where the heart beats irregularly and often too fast.
The study was led by Professor Teemu Niiranen from the University of Turku in Finland. He is known as one of Europe’s top experts on hypertension. The expert review was recently published in the journal Circulation.
Professor Niiranen explains that high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation are a dangerous pair. One condition can lead to the other, and together they greatly raise the risk of having a stroke, developing heart failure, or even getting dementia.
Right now, doctors regularly check for high blood pressure, but they don’t always check for atrial fibrillation in the same way. Because AFib doesn’t always cause symptoms, many people don’t know they have it until they’ve already had a stroke. That’s why Niiranen and his team are urging a major change in how we screen for these problems.
He says that something as simple as checking your pulse or using a home blood pressure monitor that alerts you to an irregular heartbeat could be a lifesaver. If a heart rhythm issue is caught early, doctors can begin treatment and possibly prevent a serious event like a stroke.
The review also shows that high blood pressure not only often exists in people with atrial fibrillation—it may actually help cause it. By treating and controlling high blood pressure early, doctors may also lower the risk of AFib, and in turn reduce the chance of stroke or other complications.
Atrial fibrillation is already known to make stroke five times more likely. But researchers are also finding more evidence that it increases the risk of dementia. This makes early detection even more important, especially as people get older.
AFib is the most common long-term heart rhythm disorder. It affects millions of people but is often missed because it can happen without any warning signs.
The good news is that AFib can be detected in simple ways. One option is a quick 30-second pulse check on the wrist or neck to feel for an irregular rhythm. Many modern blood pressure monitors also have alerts that detect an irregular heartbeat. In addition, portable devices like ECG monitors or smartwatches can now identify AFib in under a minute.
Professor Niiranen believes that if doctors and clinics include checks for irregular heartbeats during routine blood pressure screenings, many more patients at risk could be found early. This would make it easier to start the right treatment and could help prevent strokes and save lives.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
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