We are helping to raise awareness about Atrial Fibrillation (AF) as part of the AF Association – Global AF Awareness Week 20–26 November 2017. So we’ve brought together some key information and resources on how AF can be detected.
AF is an anomaly in the heart rhythm which can cause an irregular and often very fast heart rate.
In AF, a chaotic electrical activity develops in the walls of the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. This activity overrides the sinus node, a group of cells that have the capacity to produce electrical impulses which contract the heart and help maintain a steady, efficient rhythm to pump blood. In AF that normal, steady rhythm is disrupted. The atria instead begins to quiver with a shallow, irregular but very fast rhythm which can lead to blood pooling and clots.
AF is associated with heart failure, stroke, poor mental health, reduced quality of life and death.
Click here and here to find out more.
Pulse screening has been proven as the most cost effective strategy in detecting undiagnosed AF in people over 658. In the video below Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England National Medical Director explains why it is important to know your own pulse.
Learn how to take your pulse with this video below.
The Atrial Fibrillation Association and Anticoagulation Europe (UK) have put together a stroke risk calculator to raise awareness and help present AF-related stroke.
There are many things you can do to help raise awareness for AF. Here at LumiraDx Care Solutions we are hosting a coffee and cake morning to raise awareness about AF in our own staff and their families.
How about hosting an AF awareness activity in your health care centre, community group or workplace? You can download an activity pack from the AF Associations website here.
Find information about how to donate here.
If you would like to find out more information about AF and what initiatives are available, you can find below a list of helpful resources.
Thanks for reading and don’t forget to share – another great way to help us raise awareness.
1 Atrial Fibrillation Preventing a Stroke Crisis. ‘Chapter 1 – What is AF?’ Last accessed: 15 November 2017. Available at: http://www.preventaf-strokecrisis.org/report/chapter1/
2 Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation Initiative. ‘One year on – Why are patients still having unnecessary AF-related strokes?’ April 2016, p. 4. Last accessed: 12 September 2017. Available at: http://www.abpi.org.uk/Documents/Embargo9May_ABPI_OneYearOn_FINALREPORT.~pdf#search=One%2520year%2520on%2520why%2520are%2520patients
3 Atrial Fibrillation Association and Anticoagulation Europe UK. ‘The AF Report Atrial Fibrillation: Preventing A Stroke Crisis.’ Published: 2011, p. 8.
4 Lloyd-Jones DM, Wang TJ, Leip EP et al. ‘Lifetime risk for development of atrial fibrillation: the Framingham Heart Study.’ Circulation 2004:110:1042–6. Originally published: 30 August 2004.
5 Atrial Fibrillation Association. ‘Get involved: AF Association Global AF Aware Week 20-26 November 2017’. Last accessed: 15 November 2017. Available at: http://www.heartrhythmalliance.org/afa/uk/af-aware-week
6 South West Academic Health Science Network. ‘Atrial Fibrillation.’ Last accessed: 15 November 2017. Available at: https://www.swahsn.com/improvement/spread-and-adoption/atrial-fibrillation/
7 Public Health England, ‘Atrial fibrillation prevalence estimates in England: Application of recent population estimates of AF in Sweden.’ Published August 2017. PHE publications gateway number: 2014778
8 Moran PS, Teljeur C, Ryan M et al. ‘Systematic screening for the detection of atrial fibrillation’. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016:6: CD009586. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009586.pub3.
Tags: #KnowYourPulse, AF Association, anticoagulation, Anticoagulation Europe, atrial fibrillation
There have been many reports recently about how technology is enabling or will enable patients to both monitor and be proactive in overseeing their own healthcare. This is an area I am really interested in, and I am very much of the opinion that if you can check so much about your life on your smartphone or device why can’t you check your own health?
Anticoagulation therapy is well established, yet managing patients in this therapy can still be challenging. We consulted key opinion leaders on the anticoagulation and Atrial Fibrillation fields on how these challenges might be solved.
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