Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common cause of irregular heartbeat, known as cardiac arrythmia. There are 500,000 people with undiagnosed AF in the UK.
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of developing a blood clot in your heart, which can travel to your brain and cause a stroke. For more information about AF please visit the NHS site: Atrial fibrillation – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
The good news is that these risks can be significantly reduced with the correct course of treatment. Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Integrated Care Board are leading on the implementation of a digital heart rhythm check to test for Atrial Fibrillation. Find out more below.
Please do not call your GP with enquires regarding this heart rhythm check. Your GP will either discuss using the App with you if you have Symptoms or contact you if they think you will benefit for the use of this App.
Who are we inviting to take part?
Digital Heart rhythm checks are being offered to people who currently present to the GP surgery with symptoms that suggest that they may have an abnormal cardiac rhythm. These are people who are not thought to have immediate and life-threatening symptoms.
In addition, a practice may also invite people that may be considered to be at higher risk of developing AF. Please note that you will need to be specifically invited to participate in this programme, please do not contact the Practice directly requesting to participate.
The chances of developing AF increase as you get older. It is much more common from age 65+. Having other conditions also makes AF more likely. They include:
Other diseases of the heart such as coronary heart disease and heart failure
- high blood pressure
- an overactive thyroid
- lung disease
- chest infections like pneumonia
- alcohol or drug misuse
- vascular disease
- diabetes
- any previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- a diagnosis of dementia
What happens if I am invited to take part?
We are using new digital technology to help identify AF in people. This means you will need access to your own smartphone or be able to ask a family member/carer who has a smartphone to help. This App is Called FibriCheck. FibriCheck: your heart’s health at your fingertips
How will the heart rhythm check work?
- Your GP will discuss using the FibriCheck APP with you in your consultation to see if this might be appropriate for you.
- Your GP will ask if you consent to using the App. This consent will be recorded on your medical record.
- The GP will also explain what you need to know about using the APP:
- You must not share the free access code to the App with anyone else
- How to access the APP
