September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month.

Tam Driscoll, Go Red for Women ambassador for the American Heart Association and a stroke survivor, said the message is simple: an irregular heartbeat can become a medical emergency. She was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, after episodes in which her heart raced erratically. The danger became real two years ago, when, in her mid-30s, she had a stroke. Driscoll explained knowing the signs of a stroke and taking immediate action may have saved her life.

"Luckily for me, I knew the signs of a stroke and I got immediate care. As a result, I was able to walk out of ICU two days later because I identified it and I got the care that I needed," Driscoll recounted.

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AFib causes about 15% of strokes in the United States, with Oregon among the states with the highest mortality rates, according to the National Institutes of Health. AFib is projected to reach more than 12 million people by 2030.

Driscoll now takes medicines, including a blood thinner, and is closely monitored. She has also had three cardiac ablations and has stopped drinking alcohol because it could trigger her irregular heartbeat.

"Time is brain. I'm a firm believer of information is power, and women are more susceptible to AFib and stroke and heart-related issues than I think we know," Driscoll observed.

Driscoll urged people not to dismiss a sudden irregular heartbeat or stroke warning signs. She stressed AFib causes the heart’s upper chambers to beat irregularly. Blood can pool and form clots, increasing the risk of stroke, heart failure and other complications.