Know your pulse for Global AF Aware Week

Health Innovation North West Coast is continuing its award-winning, life-saving work in preventing strokes by urging people to check their pulses during Global AF Aware Week (20 -26 November).

As the Academic Health and Science Network for the North West Coast, the Innovation Agency is supporting the AF Association to raise awareness of the half million people in the UK with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), by holding Know Your Pulse events throughout the North West Coast.

The North West Coast has one of the highest AF-related stroke rates in the UK and we know that there are at least 20,000 people in our region who are unaware they have AF which is an easily treatable condition.

During Global AF Aware week, the Innovation Agency will be sending out its team of AF Ambassadors to test pulses using the latest technology - portable ECG devices such as AliveCor’s Kardia and MyDiagnostick.

They will be pulse testing at a number of venues in the North West Coast from Ulverston in Cumbria down to New Brighton in Wirral.

Those with a positive result will be advised to book an appointment with their GP. If diagnosed with AF they will be prescribed anticoagulant medication which can prevent a life-threatening stroke.

Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and CEO of AF Association said: “This year, for our tenth anniversary during AF Association - Global AF Aware Week, we are focusing on identifying the undiagnosed person with AF.

“Our aim is to make people aware of AF, and how a simple pulse rhythm check can help identify those people at risk of AF-related stroke, the most debilitating and life-threatening of all strokes, during the week.

“We can only do this with the help of our supporters across the UK and we are so pleased that Health Innovation North West Coast is setting up Know Your Pulse events during the week.”

Dr Julia Reynolds, Head of Programmes at the Innovation Agency, added: “We are delighted with the response we have had so far from people who have come forward to be an AF Ambassadors and help take pulses and we are pleased to be able to raise awareness of AF.

“We are confident that this week will be a great opportunity to identify more people with AF who can get early treatment from their GP which may save their life in the future.”

Health Innovation North West Coast has also developed a North West Coast AF Collaborative of GP practices who will also be testing patients throughout the week.

AF Ambassadors will testing at:

·       Gillmoss Bus Depot, Liverpool

·       St George’s Medical Centre, New Brighton

·       Ashtrees Surgery, Calverston

·       St Catherine’s Surgery, Birkdale

·       Ulverston Medical Practice

·       PharmaC, Clatterbridge Hospital

·       U3A Chester, Halton, Wirral and Ormskirk

·       Chorley Lifestyle Centre

·       Sci-Tech Daresbury

·       Fulwood Medical Centre

·       Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

·       Aintree Park Group Practice

·       Fulwood Medical Centre, Aigburth

If you are worried about your heart rate, you can always take your pulse manually at home. Visit the Heart Rhythm Alliance at www.heartrhythmalliance.org for details of how to take your pulse.

Kim Hughes, a stroke survivor from Walton, is an AF Ambassador who will be testing people during AF Aware Week. She said:

“A quarter of people who have a stroke are under 65 and I was just 33 when I had mine. I thought strokes only happened to older people – I was petrified.”

Kim keeps herself busy volunteering for The Brain Charity at The Walton Centre where she will be testing people for AF.

She said: “I want to help prevent strokes because I know the damage they can cause to the victims and their families.”

Health Innovation North West Coast is recruiting more AF Ambassadors and anyone who would like to get involved should call Debbie Parkinson on 01772 520250 or email debbie.parkinson@innovationagencynwc.nhs.uk

For more information on AF Association and Global AF Aware Week go to http://www.heartrhythmalliance.org/afa/uk/af-aware-week