In this video, cardiologists Dr. Anne Curtis and Dr. Hiroko Beck explain that stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing the affected brain tissue to die. The interruption of blood supply to the brain can be caused by a blood clot that breaks off and goes to the brain, or narrowing in one of the arteries that supply blood to the brain, or in some cases bleeding in the brain. A stroke is a medical emergency. If you or someone with you experiences any symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

In this video, cardiologists Dr. Anne Curtis and Dr. Hiroko Beck explain that atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that causes poor blood flow through the heart and body. This poor flow can cause blood to pool inside the top chambers of the heart (atria), increasing the risk of blood clots. During atrial fibrillation, the top chambers of the heart (the atria) contract very rapidly and irregularly - out of coordination with the lower chambers (ventricles) that also tend to beat in a rapid and irregular fashion. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, and the risk of developing it increases with age. One of the main complications of atrial fibrillation is stroke, so it’s very important to discuss this with your doctor.

In this video, cardiologists Dr. Anne Curtis and Dr. Hiroko Beck explain what non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is compared to valvular atrial fibrillation. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation can be caused by non-valvular reasons such as hypertension, heart failure, sleep apnea, or for unknown reasons.

Cardiologists Dr. Anne Curtis and Dr. Hiroko Beck discuss the relationship between stroke and atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke because when there is atrial fibrillation, blood does not flow normally through the heart and can stagnate, pool, and sometimes form blood clots. If blood clots form in the heart, they can break off and go directly to the brain and cause stroke.