TV Advert for Kardia

Slowly flicking through channels on the TV but not paying much attention to channel numbers an advert being shown on one channel stopped me, (for a few seconds only, didn’t want to see or hear) from moving further up the channel list. It was an advert for Kardia and splashed across the screen were words that delivered this message: with Atrial Fibrillation you are 5 x more likely to suffer from a Stroke. Having read up on Atrial Fibrillation from every source available to me I wasn’t blind to that fact but it was always part of a long list of other conditions that paired with atfib so didn’t register in the same way as the words on the TV screen did. Having it shouted out to me from the TV screen did scare me. My husband suffered a Stroke two years ago and although he has recovered well part of who he was before the Stroke has been taken from him. Both of us being Stroke victims doesn’t bear thinking about.

[splashrollandplod]

My understanding was AF makes stroke 4x as likely. But 4x what is important? my stroke risk is quite low, despite being 65 and having AF - non smoker, normal BMI/weight, normal blood pressure. Best to try and focus on the factors you can affect and to not worry about the ones you can’t I think.

[Hidden in reply to splashrollandplod]

True. Thank-you.

[etheral in reply to splashrollandplod]

You can take the risk or consider an anticoagulant such as a NOAC or warfarin. If your CHADVASC score is 2 or over this is the standard of practice.

[bantam12]

As I am female and was nearing 65 when I was diagnosed with AF I was put on an anticoagulant despite having no other risk factors, I would far rather play safe and and take a tablet than risk the alternative!

[BobD Volunteer]

Which is exactly why I am so keen to remind people they should be taking anticoagulation in most cases and it is five times not four by the way. Also important to know that AF related strokes though only abut 20% of all strokes account for 80% of the least recoverable ones

[Morzine]

I know the advert you mean and I think it’s badly presented i dont like it at all, it’s that swimmer chap, forget his name.But the stroke issue is important with AFib and I’m happily in anticoagulants because ofthe stroke issue, they tick that box. Thing is with AFib you can get it in the night little small runs apparently, and not know about it, I onky know that because my cardio said it showed in the monitor I had . Have a word with your GP. The anti coagulants now are apparently much more modern than the old warfarin , I’m on Apixaban and don’t give it a second thought daily, it’s in fact my “ protector”!

Best wishes

Sue

[Vrouse]

Unfortunately the risk of stroke is very real. I had a stroke before I knew I had AF. I have recovered well but now on anti coags and bisoprolol. I thought about getting a Kardia but thought I would become more paronoid and it would cause me more stress.

[Hidden in reply to Vrouse]

I have probably had Atfib for a lot longer than from the date of my recent diagnosis although the symptoms of it are a lot more prominent and regular now. I now know a great deal about Atfib but very little about my own Atfib condition. My young Mum GP only works 2 days a week and over the past two months has twice been on annual. During these two months I have had one face to face consultation , a Holter 24 hr. test and two telephone consultations. I would really like another face to face consultation with my GP., even more so with a Cardiologist or whatever type of ologist deals with Atrial Fibrillation, where I can express my concerns. My GP has expressed no alarm whatsoever about my condition and indeed left it to myself to decide whether I wished to go on a beta blocker or not. Perhaps, although I was having Atfib symptoms (tachycardic with hot sweats, palpitations, light headedness and fatigue) my condition is not considered to be of any concern but I would like to be informed one way or the other. And not only by my GP but also by a Specialist. However, Covid has greatly impacted on the NHS. Times have changed. Would like now does not always get.

[Vrouse in reply to Hidden]

Ask to be referred to an Electrophysiologist, they specialise in heart arrythmias and will recommend the best treatment for you, everyone is different. Good luck and I hope you get somewhere, do you know what triggers your AF, I've found anxiety/stress are mine. Loads of episodes during lockdown and hardly any since some normality has returned. I wish you well.

[P0rtnahapp1e]

I don’t know why they point out that info on an ad for Kardia, a device which doesn’t prevent strokes nor lessen the chances of suffering one.I find my Kardia a bit useless tbh. It tells me that I have AF, which I’ve known for six years. It might as well tell me that I have a nose.