1. Be atrial fibrillation aware
Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat irregularly, and often very fast. That can also lead to bigger problems further down the line. The most important thing is to be aware that atrial fibrillation can strike all sorts of people. There are a few things you can definitely do to keep your risk low: make sure you're not drinking too much, as there's a link between alcohol and atrial fibrillation, stop smoking and take regular exercise. But apart from a generally healthy lifestyle, it's more important to know that this condition can affect anyone.
2. Spot the difference
The symptoms vary enormously, from a feeling that you're a bit under par – maybe you feel that you're less fit than you used to be, or the years are catching up with you – to very dramatic episodes where you feel completely knocked out and unable to do anything physical. But whatever they are, your pulse will be beating irregularly. A normal pulse will only miss the occasional beat.
3. Feel the rhythm
Your key tactic is to learn to take your pulse, so you can check for that tell-tale irregular rhythm. Atrial fibrillation can affect people who are young and very fit, so they shouldn't rule it out if they do start to feel ill. And if you're over 65, you should check your pulse daily regardless of how you're feeling. Atrial fibrillation puts you at greater risk of having a stroke, and this risk increases with age. But learning to take your pulse is easy – visit bupa.co.uk/af for advice – so it's a very simple way to screen yourself for an irregular heart rhythm.
4. Go electric
If you do suspect that you've got atrial fibrillation, go along to your doctor and share your concerns with them. The way they'll diagnose atrial fibrillation is by taking an electrocardiogram (ECG) reading to check the heart rhythms. In lots of people their atrial fibrillation comes and goes and so the ECG may not pick up the irregular heart beat at the time it's done. If that happens you doctor may suggest you wear a 24-hour monitor to pick up irregular heart rhythms.
5. Don't panic
It can be scary if you are diagnosed because most of us are nervous at the prospect of getting a heart problem. However, if you are diagnosed, there are a number of options for treatment, and many ways to reduce the problems associated with the condition. Just make sure you catch and treat it as soon as you can. Remember, most people with atrial fibrillation are out and about and living a normal life.
6. Get someone interested
Once the diagnosis has been made and confirmed, the next step is to be referred to a specialist in heart rhythm problems. A cardiologist who specialises in heart rhythm problems will be up to date with all the latest treatment options, and therefore able to give you the best advice on your treatment and management of the condition.
7. Preventing strokes
The first thing your consultant will focus on is preventing a stroke, which is a possible consequence of atrial fibrillation because in some people the blood may pool and clot while the heart isn't working properly. A cardiologist will assess a patient's risk of having a stroke, taking into account all their other risk factors such as their age, health history, and so on. If your cardiologist thinks there may be a risk of stroke, then you'll probably be given medication to reduce this risk. This should not be aspirin, however, while this is a well known anti-clotting medication, it isn't appropriate for people with atrial fibrillation.
8. Going slow
Then your cardiologist will focus on controlling your heart rate, especially if you're in atrial fibrillation all the time, because if your heart rate is too fast all the time it can reduce your heart's ability to pump effectively. So you may need medication to slow your heart rate down, which controls your symptoms but more importantly cuts that risk of further damage to the heart.
9. Taking the medicine
Finally, your consultant will focus on trying to get rid of the atrial fibrillation itself. The pill in the pocket option is useful for patients who get symptoms only on rare occasions. Here the patient waits for a couple of hours for the medication to work. It isn't necessary for everyone, because not everyone has symptoms that interfere with their lives. But if they do, clearly it's important to try and make their lives as easy as possible. Medication will take a couple of hours to work, and then the symptoms will have stopped. So if you only get infrequent atrial fibrillation – even if the symptoms are completely flattening you – that's absolutely fine.
10. Surgical options
If you are suffering from atrial fibrillation every day you may have the choice between daily medication for the rest of your life, or another option such as surgery – probably a catheter ablation, which very carefully destroys the diseased area of your heart and interrupts abnormal electrical circuits. It's a personal choice, but if your atrial fibrillation is seriously impacting on your quality of life, it's well worth considering.
