Atrial Fibrillation
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm. It is also a major cause of stroke. AF causes the heart to beat irregularly and it can also beat too fast or too slow.
We know that 2.5% of the population of SBUHB have been diagnosed with AF but we also know that there will be lots of people living with AF who have not been diagnosed.
AF is far more common in certain groups of people. Age is the biggest risk factor with an estimate of 10% of people over 80 having AF. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and any type of heart disease (heart attack, heart failure, valve disease).
The symptoms of AF include:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Feeling faint
- Palpitations
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
However, in some people these symptoms are very mild and they may even have not symptoms at all.
If you think you are having a heart attack, or if you have these symptoms and they are severe, you should call 999.
But if your symptoms are mild, or if you have noticed that your pulse is irregular, please speak to your GP.
How is AF diagnosed?
You will be offered a heart tracing called an ECG (electrocardiogram) which can be done at your GP surgery. The GP may request additional tests such as blood tests, a chest x-ray, and a heart scan (echocardiogram) to guide the management appropriately.
Occasionally AF can come and go, and symptoms may come and go too. In these cases doctors can organise an ECG that can be worn for a day or longer to capture the events.
New Swansea Bay clinics
We’ve set up new clinics in Penclawdd, Killay, Gorseinon and the Resouce Centre in Port Talbot, which are specifically designed to investigate and diagnose patients who may have AF, and also help manage patients with a new AF diagnosis. They are based in the community, rather than the hospital, and aim to see patients within a few weeks.
The focus is on reducing the risk of an AF-related stroke. People with AF are five times more likely to have a stroke than those without AF. One in five strokes are caused by AF.
To reduce your risk, you will be prescribed blood thinning tablets (anticoagulants) to bring that risk down. These are an effective and well tolerated medication.
Additional medications are often required to control the symptoms of AF. In some patients it may be beneficial to return the heart back to its normal rhythm which can be done with medication, an electric shock (DC cardioversion) or a procedure called ablation.
Access to these clinics is by GP referral. So if you think you may have AF symptoms, please see your GP in the first instance.
The good news is that if it is appropriately managed, most people live a normal life with AF with minimal symptoms.
Go here to the British Heart Foundation website to find out more about Atrial Fibrillation
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