Publish date: 22 November 2024
This condition is often "silent" with no symptoms to alert the patient of it's presence, and as a result it often remains undiagnosed and untreated.
The NHS Long Term Plan aims to detect and manage high-risk conditions that affect patients with cardiovascular disease. One of the high-risk conditions is Atrial Fibrillation (AF), which is the most common cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice and usually presents with an irregular heart beat. It affects 1.4 million people and increased risk of stroke is five times greater for people with AF. AF strokes are often more severe with higher mortality and greater disability.
The public tend to be less aware of Aware of AF than other cardiovascular conditions such as Diabetes or Hypertension and many do not associate a heart rhythm disorder with the increased risk of stroke.
Raising public awareness of AF is key to highlighting the associated dangers, it's link to stroke and the importance of a regular pulse rhythm check. Public events such as this are key to delivering awareness and support newly-diagnosed patients and their families.
An event at the Barn in Scorton was a great success. Jenni commented, “we had a steady stream of people who had come to The Barn especially to see us. We managed to capture 3 people who potentially have AF and were unaware. Hopefully avoiding a potentially life threatening stroke! One chap came back to thank us and told us that he had managed to get an appointment with his GP that afternoon for a 12 lead ECG.”
“We were able to offer lifestyle advice and reassurance to many other people and the host Joanne kept us well hydrated and fed - even offering us homemade hot mince pies!”
