Regularly checking the pulse of a stroke survivor may help prevent another stroke. [s]Medicinenet[/s] quotes study author Dr Bernd Kallmunzer, of [b]Erlangen University[/b] in [b]Germany[/b] as saying: ‘Screening pulse is the method of choice for checking for irregular heartbeat for people over age 65 who have never had a stroke. Our study shows it may be a safe, effective, non-invasive and easy way to identify people who might need more thorough monitoring to prevent a second stroke.’ The study included more than 250 people who survived an ischemic stroke (blocked blood flow to the brain). Either the patients or their relatives were taught how to monitor the pulse to detect an irregular heartbeat. Pulse checks taken by patients and relatives were nearly as accurate as those taken by health care workers, according to the study.
[link url=http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=179645]Full Medicinenet report[/link]
[link url=http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/07/23/WNL.0000000000000690.abstract?sid=5f0966d6-ad01-4851-8df9-167c6a5fe3d4]Neurology abstract[/link]