Take Your Pulse to Reduce Your Stroke Risk
Take your pulse to reduce your stroke risk, researchers suggest.
Atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat is a major cause of stroke, particularly in those who’ve already had a stroke. Doctors monitor heartbeat in stroke victims by hooking them up to an electrocardiogram machine or having them wear a monitoring device. But researchers have discovered that an easier way would be to teach stroke victims and those at risk for strokes to monitor their own pulse.
German researchers trained 220 older people to take their pulse and to tell the difference between regular and irregular heartbeat. They were able to identify irregular heart rhythms 54% of the time, and regular heartbeat 96% of the time. Incorrect readings of irregular heartbeat happened only 3% of the time.
Relatives who were trained did better than the patients, and identified irregular heart rhythms 77% of the time.
The study was published in the journal, Neurology. More….
Category: News
