Presence of heart pouch may explain strokes of unknown origin, study finds

A pouchlike structure inside the heart's left atrial chamber in some people may explain strokes that otherwise lack an identifiable cause, according to researchers. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term severe disability and the fourth-most-common cause of death in the U.S. About 80 percent of the 700,000-plus strokes that occur annually in this country are due to blood clots blocking a brain artery. In up to a third of these cases, the clots’ origin cannot be determined.
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - Category: Science Source Type: news