North West Coast residents who have experienced fainting are being urged to have their pulse checked for signs of an irregular heartbeat.
The call comes during World Heart Rhythm Week, 4 – 10 June, when the Arrhythmia Alliance charity and the Innovation Agency are offering free checks for signs of atrial fibrillation – a condition which can lead to a stroke.
Around 50% of the population faint at some time in their life – but most people do not know that fainting can be a sign of an arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder).
A simple pulse check can help to detect any irregular heart rhythms and so the Innovation Agency, the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, will be sending its team of AF Ambassadors out into the community to test pulses throughout the week.
Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and Trustee of Arrhythmia Alliance said: “This year, our focus for the Arrhythmia Alliance World Heart Rhythm Week is Take Fainting to Heart – there is no such thing as a simple faint.
“Fainting is often a symptom of an underlying cause which is sometimes fatal such as sudden cardiac death, yet if investigated and treated lives can be saved and quality of life improved.”
Testing pulses is part of the Innovation Agency’s programme of regional stroke prevention initiatives to detect atrial fibrillation – an irregular heart rate which can lead to a life-threatening stroke.
Health Innovation North West Coast has recruited a team of volunteers known as AF Ambassadors to test the pulses of their family, friends and colleagues throughout Lancashire.
They have been trained to use the latest technology including AliverCor mobile EGC deviceswhich attach to the back of a mobile smartphone and display a heart rate reading on an app.
AliveCor’s technology captures the heart rate of the user in just 30 seconds and shows an alert if the user’s heart rate is outside the normal range.
When this happens, the Ambassador will advise the person to visit their GP as soon as possible and can email an ECG trace to the user so they can show it to a healthcare professional. If AF is detected, the patient may be prescribed blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin, to prevent a blood clot forming which may lead to a stroke.
During World Heart Rhythm Week, the Ambassadors will be carrying out free pulse checks using portable Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors and giving out information on arrhythmias – raising awareness of the importance of knowing one’s pulse.
Dr Julia Reynolds, Head of Programmes and lead for AF at the Innovation Agency, said: “We are really pleased to be engaged with World Heart Rhythm week, which allows us to raise awareness about the importance of heart health and the prevention of illnesses such as Atrial Fibrillation caused by irregular heartbeat.
“Our AF Ambassadors and our NHS colleagues are out and about raising awareness throughout this week.”
Health Innovation North West Coast has also established an AF Collaborative of GP surgeries across the North West Coast, providing them with portable ECG devices to enable them to test patients’ pulses.
But don’t worry, if you don’t get checked by an AF Ambassador, you can easily check your own pulse at home.
The Arrhythmia Alliance is urging people to take the Pulse Check Challenge. It takes just 30 seconds to know the rhythm of your heart- yet it could save your life.
Find our more information about Arrhythmia Alliance and World Heart Rhythm Week.
To find out how to become an AF Ambassador email Debbie Parkinson or call on 01772 520250.
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