A simple screening programme to identify people at risk from irregular heartbeats should be introduced "urgently" across the UK, according to stroke specialists.
The silent condition of atrial fibrillation is linked to the development of stroke.
Now experts say GPs should go back to taking the pulse of their elderly patients to find those at risk.
Doctors could take the pulse of all patients over the age of 65 when they see them in their surgeries, according to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Routine checks on elderly people could help achieve a massive reduction in rates of stroke, according to the college.
The proposal came from a two day conference of stroke specialists organised in Edinburgh last week. Some 120 doctors attended the event.
The college said ‘opportunistic screening’ by GPs would be most cost-effective. Doctors would then have to refer any patient with an irregular pulse for an ECG check.
The specialists say most people with atrial fibrillation should now be prescribed anti-coagulant treatments – but not aspirin.
This would be a switch from trying to identify high risk patients. Instead doctors should seek to identify low-risk patients who do not need treatment, they said.
Improved treatment could prevent 2,000 deaths and 5,000 strokes a year in the UK, they say.
Dr Scott Ramsay, a consultant in stroke medicine and college member, said: "Atrial fibrillation is often a silent condition with serious consequences in the form of stroke. Its symptoms can go undetected, there has been uncertainty amongst doctors regarding how to treat it effectively and a lack of medical and public awareness about sufferers’ significantly increased risk of developing a stroke.
"The goal of treating atrial fibrillation is primarily to reduce the current unacceptable levels of avoidable stroke and the disability and premature death it causes.
"This is an issue of national significance and we have reached consensus that the most effective way of doing this would be for national screening programmes to be introduced throughout the UK for all people over 65 as a matter of urgency."
He added: "In addition, it is clear that the evidence has moved on and historic methods of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, such as prescribing aspirin instead of anticoagulants have proven to be ineffective but have significant side effects.
"For all patients in atrial fibrillation, except those few at truly low risk of stroke, anticoagulation is the only effective stroke prevention and should be offered as treatment."
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