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15 percent of strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation – an irregular or rapid heart beat. Yet those most at risk have mild symptoms or none at all. So, doctors are wanting people who have any kind of weird sensation in their heart, to let their doctors know. That way, if in fact you do have atrial fibrillation, you can get on medications, sometimes as simple as a baby aspirin, that could reduce your risk for stroke.

Here’s the story.

Penny Lang has no trouble negotiating the stairs today. But some days, it’s a different story. That’s because she has ‘atrial fibrillation’ or a heart rhythm disturbance.

“It felt like hummingbird wings,” says Lang.

That’s her heart not beating properly. And it’s just the start of her symptoms.

“I have chest pain once in awhile, shortness of breath, light headedness, I haven’t fainted for awhile, but I did for awhile.”

Doctor Brent Mitchell says atrial fibrillation is a problem with the electricity in the heart that prevents it from pumping normally. “So instead of an organized electrical wave once per second there are thousands of little wavelets flying all over the place in total chaos.”

And this can lead to heart failure, because the heart can’t keep pumping so fast or so irregularly. Not only does atrial fibrillation cause problems in the heart, it’s also responsible for 15 percent of strokes in canada. Those most at risk of stroke – are those who experience mild symptoms or none at all. This is why Doctor Mitchell wants these people to talk to their doctor if they feel anything strange in their heart.

“We’re very interested in finding people who are marginally or not very symptomatic before they have any complications so we can institute one of the preventative measures ahead of time.”

Like medication. Lang takes about 7 a day…. including one to help prevent a stroke.  And she was one of these people, who had fluttering in her heart for a couple of years before she was diagnosed.

“When you don’t get the fluttering very often you think oh, it’s anxiety, I’m stressed , I’m tired or something, check it out, because if it’s atrial fibrillation you want to get something to minimize your risk of stroke.”

For more information on this condition, visit the website,

www.heartandstroke.ca