September is Irregular Heart Rhythm awareness month.
Afib, an irregular heart rhythm impacting an estimated 2.7 to 6.1 million Americans, increases the stroke risk five-fold.
Since Afib can be asymptomatic and evade conventional heart monitoring techniques, it is also one of the likely causes of cryptogenic strokes.
Green Bay resident KaelaGedda suffered a stroke at age 19. She now shares her story in hopes to inform others about the potential causes of stroke.
Facts about stroke:
- Each year nearly 800,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke.
- A stroke happens every 40 seconds.
- Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Every 4 minutes someone dies from stroke.
- Up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.
- Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.
