Can Fibrillation Cause a Stroke?

Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots and stroke. Find out how to manage your risk. Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, can increase your risk of stroke. In atrial fibrillation, blood can pool in the heart's upper chambers and form blood clots.

What are the odds of having a stroke with AFib?

The rate of ischemic stroke in patients with nonrheumatic AF averages 5% a year, which is somewhere between 2 and 7 times the rate of stroke in patients without AF. The risk of stroke is not due solely to AF; it increases substantially in the presence of other cardiovascular diseases.

What type of stroke is caused by atrial fibrillation?

An ischemic stroke is the type of stroke most associated with the irregular heartbeat of atrial fibrillation. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain. This can happen when a blood vessel in the area of the brain weakens and breaks.