Atrial fibrillation & how you can take control of your heart health at home in partnership with KardiaMobile

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart rhythm problem. The irregular heartbeat occurs when the upper chambers of your heart beat out of sync with the lower chambers, causing your heart to beat too slowly or quickly. It’s the most common heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) in the UK, affecting around 1.4 million people. If you’re experiencing Afib, it can feel like your heart is fluttering or skipping a beat.  

What are the main symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

The main symptoms of atrial fibrillation are: 

• An irregular heartbeat (felt as an uneven or unsteady pulse) 

• A sudden sensation of your heart racing, fluttering, pounding, or feeling like it’s skipping beats – episodes may last seconds to minutes. 

• A fast heart rate (often more than 100 beats per minute) 

• A feeling unusually tired or fatigued 

• Reduced ability to exercise or carry out normal activities 

• Chest discomfort, pain or feeling of tightness 

• Shortness of breath, especially when exercising 

• Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint 

It’s important to know that sometimes there are no symptoms (asymptomatic), and atrial fibrillation may only be picked up as part of a routine checkup or when you have an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the electrical activity of your heart. 

What are the risk factors of atrial fibrillation?

Your risk of developing atrial fibrillation can be impacted by several different factors, such as: 

• Hypertension, or high blood pressure 

• Smoking  

• Sedentary lifestyle 

• Heart disease 

• Age 

• Family history  

Are there different types of atrial defibrillation?

There are three different types of atrial fibrillation, and this can impact the type of symptoms you may experience and how long they can last. 

• Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation – this type of Afib can come on quickly and randomly, with symptoms lasting from minutes to no more than a week. Episodes will end on their own and will often feature common symptoms listed above, but the feeling of exhaustion is very common with this type of Afib. 

• Persistent atrial fibrillation – this type of Afib lasts longer than seven days with similar symptoms to those listed above, but you will need treatment for this as your heart rhythm will not return to normal on its own. 

• Long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation – this type of Afib carries on for at least 12 months and requires ongoing medical support. 

How can I keep atrial fibrillation episodes at bay?

You might be feeling anxious or overwhelmed if you've recently been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. This is normal, and there are things you can do to help feel more in control of your heart health: 

• Make exercise part of your life – while living with Afib means keeping an eye on your limits, moderate exercise can bring you longer-term benefits, like weight loss and lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart failure. The British Heart Foundation recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week. 

• Minimise stress levels where possible – stress is a common trigger and can affect the severity of your symptoms too. At the same time, Afib episodes can also trigger you if you’re prone to anxiety or high-stress states. Since the causes of stress are unique, sources of relief are individual to each person and could include stress trigger awareness, therapy, exercises, and more. 

• Reduce salt intake – high-sodium diets can increase the risk of high blood pressure which in turn can lead to heart arrhythmia. Pay closer attention to what you eat. Maintaining healthy levels of electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium helps support normal heart rhythm. Please speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing your diet in case it affects any existing medication or conditions.  

• Watch your caffeine, nicotine & alcohol intake – stimulants like caffeine and nicotine, can put strain on your heart, increase your blood pressure, and increase your risk of palpitations. Alcohol can also negatively impact your heart health, so try to reduce or completely give up your intake levels of all three. 

• Try to avoid infections - you can be more prone to developing more serious infections, and so it is important to protect yourself from illnesses such as the flu. Get your annual flu vaccine, regularly wash your hands, and clean high-touch areas such as door handles and work surfaces. 

How can I keep track of my heart health?

If you have, or suspect you may have, any heart condition, whether it’s atrial fibrillation or something else, speak to your GP regularly. Frequent health screenings, from ECGs to blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and more, save lives.

You can also monitor your heart health from home with wearable or mobile devices, like the KardiaMobile’s ECG heart monitors.

How can the KardiaMobile Six Lead ECG Heart Monitor help?

The KardiaMobile Six Lead ECG Heart Monitor from AliveCor is a unique and specialised personal ECG device that connects to your smartphone. 

Used and trusted by the NHS, it’s the only personal ECG monitor that provides more in-depth heart data than your regular smartwatch. The wireless, pocket-friendly device is considered the most advanced personal ECG heart monitor you can use outside of a hospital, allowing you to check your heart anytime, anywhere in just 30 seconds. 

You simply place the first two fingers from each hand on the device, and after just 30 seconds, it can track your heart rhythm and let you know if it has detected atrial fibrillation. 

Where can I get the KardiaMobile Six Lead ECG Heart Monitor?

The KardiaMobile Six Lead ECG Heart Monitor is now available to buy from the Pharmacy2U Health & Wellness Shop.