Take time out of your busy day and make a Donation to an amazing cause. Shed some light on Heart Awareness
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Take time out of your busy day and make a Donation to an amazing cause. Shed some light on Heart Awareness
Around half a million Australians have atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular pulse or heartbeat, and up to 30 per cent of them may be undiagnosed. 1, 2, 3
This September (23-29), Hearts4heart is launching its annual Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week to:
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition in which the top chambers of the heart, or the atria, beat fast and irregularly.
This means that the heart may not be pumping blood around the body as well as it should.
AF generally begins as short episodes which can turn into longer attacks as time goes on, developing into permanent AF.
Atrial fibrillation can result in severe health complications including a greater risk of stroke, heart failure and dementia4,5
Symptom awareness and early diagnosis is critical to managing the risks of atrial fibrillation, as mortality rates related to AF have nearly doubled over the last two decades. 6
Almost six percent of Australians over the age of 55 are living with atrial fibrillation and AF can affect even the fittest individuals as extreme levels of exercise such as cycling and running can induce AF.7,8
Atrial fibrillation affects men and women of all ages, but risk of developing the condition doubles with each decade of life.9 Other risk factors to be aware of include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking, consuming a high card or a low-fat diet, and a lack of physical activity.
The risk factors of atrial fibrillation include:
This year, Hearts4heart is focusing on how we can use devices such as smart watches and fitness trackers to monitor heart health.
Wearable devices such as smart watches can be useful to recognise potential AF symptoms, which should then be discussed further by a healthcare professional.
Over 4.5 million Australians use a fitness tracker to monitor steps, sleep and energy levels but these devices are also an effective way to monitor heart abnormalities.10
Symptoms of AF include:
If you’re over 65, or experiencing any of the above, don’t put your heart health on hold.
Speak to your GP and get your heart checked with a stethoscope.
Discovering an irregular heartbeat could save your life.
Click here to download our Heart Arrythmia Symptom tracker
Click here to download our Atrial Fibrillation Explained Booklet
Click here to download our checklist Managing Atrial Fibrillation
Click here to download our Atrial Fibrillation awareness poster
We always appreciate people helping us spread the word. If you would like to get involved in Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week, please email [email protected] for more information and shareable social media assets.
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