500,000 People Call for Urgent Action to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation-Related Strokes

500,000 People Call for Urgent Action to500,000 People Call for Urgent Action to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation-Related Strokes PR Newswire BERLIN, October 29, 2013 -Not intended for U.K. media- Atrial fibrillation is an under-diagnosed, undertreated abnormal heart rhythm that increases stroke risk five-fold compared to the general population World Stroke Day 2013 By World Stroke Day 2013 (October 29) more than 500,000 people have shown their support for the Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation campaign, calling for urgent coordinated action to avoid the thousands of preventable strokes that leave many atrial fibrillation (AF) patients disabled or dead every year. Despite widespread fear of stroke and its devastating consequences, many people are unaware of AF and its link to stroke, highlighting a critical educational and medical challenge for policy makers and healthcare providers. Every year, 15 million people worldwide experience a stroke. Approximately five million of these suffer permanent disabilities and over five million more [1]die, accounting for 10% of all deaths worldwide . Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation supports the world's only Global AF Patient Charter that calls for more education to raise awareness of the signs of AF, driving earlier diagnosis, and ensuring patients receive the appropriate care, so fewer families suffer the devastation caused by an AF-related stroke.