Health experts have warned that millions of people are at risk of suffering from a silent killer, and these are the signs you should be keeping an eye out for. Research from the University of California San Francisco has suggested nearly five per cent of people suffer from atrial fibrillation and that it is more than three times more common than originally thought. The condition causes rapid, irregular heartbeat and can trigger heart attacks and strokes.
In the US, around 10.5million adults are affected. While in the UK, the British Heart Foundation says one in 14 - the equivalent of 1.
5million, are known to be living with it. However, the charity warns the real number could be much higher. Author of the study, Dr Jean Jacques Noubiap, said: "Atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of mortality, is one of the most common causes of stroke, increases risks of heart failure, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease and dementia, and results in lower quality of life Fortunately, it is preventable, and early detection and appropriate treatment can substantially reduce its adverse outcomes.
" People's hearts should beat anywhere between 60 to 100 beats per minute while resting. But someone with atrial fibrillation can be much higher than this, the NHS says. Those with the condition can have short breath, tiredness, dizziness and heart palpitations.
Atrial fibrillation has seen a rise in the past decade, alongside increasing blood pressure rates, diabetes and obesity, the Sun repor.