Staying Well

A new medical device may help better treat and prevent strokes for hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S.Atrial fibrillation, or flutter, is a common type of abnormal heartbeat and has been linked to risk of stroke. In this condition, the heart rhythm is fast and irregular. Atrial fibrillation may occur without your knowledge, causing you not to seek medical attention and thus increase your risk of death from stroke.Atrial fibrillation is the most common abnormal rhythm of the heart, and at least five million Americans suffer from the condition.What if there was something that could help prevent strokes from happening in those who suffer from atrial fibrillation, other than medication?A new device about the size of a AAA battery can be injected into your skin. This device then automatically hooks up with a bedside transponder. If you have any abnormal rhythms in your heart, it will find the nearest cell phone tower and transmit that information to your caregiver.Doctors will now be able to tell when you'