Managing heart conditions

The link between heart health and stroke

Atrial fibrillation and stroke

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a heart problem many people experience without knowing. It can happen rarely and without symptoms, and it can increase the risk of stroke.

Patients with AFib are 5x more likely to have a stroke.1

AFib-related stroke is twice as likely to be fatal than non-AFib-related stroke.2

Most AFib episodes are asymptomatic, meaning you don't feel them.3

If you’ve had a stroke, understanding your heart health is important to prevent your risk of having another one.

One in four stroke survivors will experience another stroke within five years.4

Stroke survivors are at high risk of AFib after their stroke.3,5

AFib is treatable, and treating AFib can lower your risk of another stroke.6

An insertable heart monitor can help.

Advanced solutions, such as long-term heart monitoring, are available for continuous monitoring after a cryptogenic stroke, large-vessel stroke, or small-vessel stroke. The automatic detection in the monitor can catch abnormal heart rhythms as they happen and send that information directly to your doctor. Information sent from an implanted heart monitor can help your doctor determine if you have AFib, or other possible underlying conditions.

Reveal LINQ ICM in hand

Watch a patient story.

Meet Pam, who found peace of mind after her cryptogenic stroke with an insertable heart monitor.*

*Not every person will receive the same results. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options.

Is heart monitoring right for me?

Learn more about long-term heart monitoring for secondary stroke prevention.

Find a heart specialist.

To check your heart health, you may need to see a heart specialist, or cardiologist. A special type of cardiologist, called an electrophysiologist, may also be needed to check your heart rhythm.

Sign up to learn more.

Complete a few questions to get information sent to you via email and see if Medtronic insertable heart monitors are right for you.

References

1

Preventing Another Stroke. American Stroke Association. Available at: https://www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke/preventing-another-stroke. Accessed September 13, 2022.

2

Lin HJ, Wolf PA, Kelly-Hayes M, et al. Stroke severity in atrial fibrillation. The Framingham Study. Stroke. October 1996;27(10):1760-1764.

3

Sanna T, Diener HC, Passman RS, et al. Cryptogenic stroke and underlying atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. June 26, 2014;370(26):2478-2486.

4

Mohan KM, Wolfe CD, Rudd AG, et al. Risk and cumulative risk of stroke recurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stroke. May 2011;42(5):1489-1494.

5

Bernstein RA, Kamel H, Granger CB, et al; for the STROKE-AF Investigators. Effect of Long-term Continuous Cardiac Monitoring vs Usual Care on Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Stroke Attributed to Large- or Small-Vessel Disease. JAMA. June 1, 2021;325(21):2169-2177.

6

Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Study. Final results. Circulation. August 1991;84(2):527-539.