Often silent and easily overlooked, atrial fibrillation (AF) is emerging as a major public‑health concern in India and worldwide, and early diagnosis followed by timely anticoagulation can prevent many life‑altering strokes. According to estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study, nearly 8 million people in India live with AF, a condition experts say is becoming more common as the population ages and rates of obesity, diabetes and uncontrolled high blood pressure rise. Speaking to India Today Digital, Dr Christopher Granger, Fred Cobb, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, warned that AF occurs when the heart’s upper chambers develop abnormal electrical activity and “the electrical impulse travels in a chaotic way through the top of the heart, leading to an irregular and often rapid heartbeat.”
A racing heartbeat, a fluttering sensation in the chest, unexplained breathlessness, persistent fatigue or a new irregular pulse can all signal AF, but many people have silent episodes that go unnoticed until complications arise. Dr Granger advised not to ignore persistent palpitations or an unexpected rise in resting heart rate; consumer devices such as smartwatches that detect irregular rhythms can prompt further evaluation with an electrocardiogram (ECG).
The greatest danger from AF is stroke. When the atria do not contract normally, blood can pool and form clots that may travel to the brain and cause an ischaemic stroke. Dr Granger said AF raises stroke risk by about fivefold and that roughly one in five strokes is associated with the condition; these strokes are often larger, more severe and more likely to produce permanent disability. AF can also worsen heart failure by reducing the heart’s pumping efficiency, causing fluid build‑up in the lungs and increased breathlessness.
Preventing AF‑related strokes hinges on timely anticoagulation. “Using an effective blood thinner can reduce about 70% of strokes caused by atrial fibrillation,” Dr Granger said, calling anticoagulants one of the biggest advances in preventing disabling strokes. Treatment may also include medications to control heart rate or rhythm, and for some patients catheter ablation — a minimally invasive procedure that interrupts abnormal electrical signals — can help restore a normal rhythm.
Although age and genetics play a role, many cases can be delayed or prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors: keep blood pressure under control, manage diabetes and cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, limit alcohol, and seek assessment and treatment for sleep apnoea when indicated. Moderate tea or coffee consumption does not appear to increase AF risk and may be linked to lower risk in some studies. Beyond health benefits, Dr Granger stressed the economic logic: “The cost of anticoagulant therapy is far outweighed by the cost of treating disabling strokes and their long‑term complications,” underscoring that early diagnosis and prompt treatment remain the most cost‑effective strategy. Published Jul 27, 2026.
Original Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/8-million-indians-could-be-living-with-this-heart-condition-without-knowing-it-2955313-2026-07-27
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Publish Date: 2026-07-27 07:30:00
