Taking your pulse to help prevent a stroke

Something as simple as regularly checking your pulse can help you detect potential stroke risk factors. Discover what to be on the watch for.

Each year in Canada an estimated 50,000 people experience a stroke, which equates to one every ten minutes. An estimated 315,000 Canadians live with the effects of strokes, about 80 per cent of which are caused by a clot blocking an artery.

This blockage can have a devastating effect on lifestyle and around a third of those diagnosed die. What many people don't realize is that there is a simple way to help prevent a stroke.

Commonly known as AFib, atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart beat that occurs in around one-to-two per cent of the population. The upper two heart chambers or atria beat much faster than the lower ventricles. This causes blood to pool in the heart as it is not pumping around the body as effectively as a regular beat, and as a result a clot can form.

Sometimes clots dissolve by themselves but unfortunately they can also be fired off by the heart and get lodged someplace in the body. Should that be the case, a stroke may occur.

One of the simplest things you can do to help prevent a stroke is to take your own pulse or get someone else to take it for you. By pressing two fingers gently on the radial artery in the wrist you should be able to feel the pulse. Does the beat feel regular? Is each beat feeling full and not weak? Do some beats sound as if they're beating at a different volume than others? Are there gaps every now and again?

If your pulse does not feel as though it is beating regularly, don't panic. Just be sure to make an appointment to see your family doctor to discuss it.

Chances are the doctor will recheck your pulse and may order an EKG. All may be completely normal, but if you do have AFib then there are ways of controlling it. These include medication to regulate the heart and to thin the blood to prevent clots. AFib often goes away by itself too. By taking action you can help prevent a stroke and avoid the consequences of disability and long-term illness.

Check your pulse on a periodic basis and if you are concerned, consult your family doctor regarding further tests. It can help prevent strokes and make a difference to your health.