We have launched a survey with Bupa this week; Heart Rhythm Week, that found that 31% of people have experienced irregular heartbeat, which could be atrial fibrillation (AF). Yet 62% do not even know what it is.
A quarter of people would wait until they had experienced an irregular heartbeart four times or more before booking an appointment to go see a doctor.
Olympic gold medallist, Tom James, appeared on ITV News today with AF Association Trustee, Professor Richard Schilling. Watch the interview here youtube.com/watch?v=VSmbbQL...
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I wish I could say that was a surprise but I know it's true. So many have never heard of it and your facts support all that I see on the forums. Most will blame the racing heart on an anxiety attack of another simple reason and will not seek out help until a really severe attack happens. AF can be so simple to find with a pulse check but most don't know to do it. The key to fighting this and other rhythm disorders is education. When more people are made aware of AF then diagnosis will be a much higher percentage.
You folks are doing a very good job of getting the word out.
Very good .My prob is have AF picked up when having flu jab 2 years ago but it is just missed beat 4 or5 beats then miss one sometimes even more misses at say every 3 beats. Hospital test said I had AF but only put me on warfarin. I do get light headed and some days vision probs but they said I might need pace maker later....when ? I'm 83.
5 years ago (age 67) I had never heard of A/F or TIA, till I woke up in an ambulance one day, I had been vaguely aware of irregular heartbeat, but thought it was more my not knowing how to locate pulse? Now ok on Eliquis / metropolol 1.5 / and this forum! But went through all usual anxieties for the first year! Just got to be careful
I seem to remember 20 + years ago medical staff always at every encounter manually took your pulse. Then this became less automatic? (my imagination or fake memory?)
Now of course electronic sensors prevail everywhere
I agree with Tim I wish it was a surprise, I am fairly sure that I have had my A Fib for 5 years, and in that time have even had a supposedly full medical from my GP which was my age 55 MOT check, and they did not discover it.
Reason is they use the electronic BP machines and do not take your pulse.
I think the new BP machines they are rolling out have got arrythmia checkers in them now.
I wonder if the conventional "wisdom" among medical staff was not to mention it when they discovered AF in a patient? So as not to cause additional anxieties?
Yes, sadly that's true. For years I was told that I suffered from panic attacks and of course I believed them initially. My family and friends were surprised when I was finally diagnosed ...but still don't have any real idea of how it can change your life..... no visible signs apparently means it's nothing bad !
It was so good to see a sportsman speaking up to the general public...will help to get others diagnosed safely .......then they'll be on the road to recovery .
again i have to say that i WOULD have been surprised had it been the other way around. I fully agree with other comments, the so called GP that I was constantly asking why was I so tired and knackered at the age of 50, only ever took my BP and that was 13 years ago, sounds like they have not learned anything. Its not only the population taht needs to be made aware, checking pulse should be part of ALL GP VISITS NOW !!!! Not more chatting about it, just get on with it. Is that not what they are there for ???? To catch symptoms of everything EARLY, they do very little else for their money.
Have too agree with gerryatriq, within my doctors practice, i have seen four doctors, two had very good knowledge of AF, two almost ignorant of it and worse insensitive to it too
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Apple Watch with AF application is here now
Diagnosing AF - advice needed
AF or not AF
AF without fast pulse? 
"pill-in-the-pocket" use of anticoagulant
