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THE IRISH HEART Foundation has launched a new public awareness campaign to help over 50s know if they suffer from a condition described as a “silent killer”.
The ‘Prevent a Stroke: Feel the Pulse’ campaign is urging members of the public to check their pulse twice a day for two weeks to test whether they may have atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, with one in four people over the age of 50 at risk of developing the condition.
Symptoms can include tiredness, dizziness, palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath, but very often those who have the condition experience no symptoms at all.
However, atrial fibrillation can lead to a range of health complications, including stroke, permanent heart damage and heart failure.
Those with atrial fibrillation who leave the condition untreated are five times more likely to have a stroke, but with early diagnosis, the condition is treatable.
The Irish Heart Foundation says this is why it is crucial for those over 50 years of age to regularly check their pulse for irregularities.
‘Silent killer’
One of those with the condition is Rebecca Redmond, who was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation two years ago.
“I was only 44 when I was diagnosed, but I had no realisation I had the condition at the time,” she tells TheJournal.ie.
At the time, Rebecca began suffering from leg swelling, fatigue, and shortness of breath, but explains that she tried to explain those symptoms as being down to her lack of fitness.
However, after visiting her doctor and A&E, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
“It came as such a shock to me and my family; I thought I was too young for something like this,” she says.
“It can be a silent killer, but it’s one that can be managed. That’s the thing about the campaign and something that people will be reassured to know; it’s not the problem that it needs to be.”
How to check
A recent survey conducted by the Irish Heart Foundation found that 69% of people over the age of 50 admitted that they didn’t know that regularly checking their pulse could detect the condition.
To help people become more aware of atrial fibrillation, the group has launched a campaign teaching people how to test for the condition by checking their pulse.
They say people should do this by remembering the ’2x2x2′ method: using two fingers on their wrists to check their pulse twice a day for two weeks, then taking note of the results.
Sitting in a chair, testers should rest their arms with their palms facing upwards on the arm of the chair or on a table.
Two fingers – the middle finger and index finger – should be placed on the wrist at the base of the thumb, and pressed down gently to feel for a pulse.
Using a watch, clock or phone to time 30 seconds, testers should then count the number of beats they feel in half a minute, then multiply the result by two to get the number of beats per minute.
A normal resting pulse is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, and the beats should be regular. If the pulse feels irregular, then it’s possible that atrial fibrillation could be diagnosed.
Those whose pulse feels irregular or very fast – or who have difficulty feeling their pulse – should contact their doctor or call the Irish Heart Foundation’s Heart and Stroke Helpline on 1800 25 25 50.
More information on the campaign and a watch a step-by-step video showing how to check your pulse is also available at irishheart.ie/feelthepulse.
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Thank you.
Great article! Brilliant to raise awareness of this potentially dangerous condition.
I had my first Heart Attack at 45 – Seemingly they were right Cigarettes are bad for you .
I have lost 50% of heart function. —–
Ciggies and Stress – Give them up ……..
A lot of people I work for have no hearts and seem to manage ok
Just.use your heart rate monitor on your phone. Simples. I check mine weekly. 55 resting. Not bad for an auld lad.
@Dexter: Mine was 54 beats just now – at 71 years of age. I’m glad yours at 55 cause I was beginning to think my 54 beats was too low. I bike around 6 klms three times a week with the dog, fast with half of it uphill – so I guess my 54 beats is normal for another fit ‘Auld Fella’.
@Pádraig Ó Braonáin: 59 just now…what’s going on…Is typing bad for ye?
@Dexter: Hi Dexter, for Atrial fibrillation the focus is on the irregular nature of the pulse rather than the actual heart rate. You’re phone can usually only tell you the rate. A fast heart rate can be due to a host of issues other than A fib whereas an irregularly irregular heartbeat is most often A fib.
@Pádraig Ó Braonáin: yes cycling is a great way to keep fit, I cycle long distances most weekends, my resting heartbeat is sometimes 52-54 bpm in the mornings. Plus cycling gets me to work quicker than the car. It’s a win win. I’m nearly 60.
Essential advice, wish I knew way back. Had a totally paralytic stroke 9 years ago because this. I was lucky, I recovered about 95% and learning to live healthily and actively with an irregular heart is quite easy.
Suffer with it myself. I found out by accident when I was at doctor for something else and I asked her should my heart be in my head. That waa 3 years ago and medication hasn’t really goy it in check. Foods seem to be my trigger and I find if I eat small portions of organic / vegetarian episodes are few and far between so I eat a small breakfast plate of food 5 times a day.
I got diagnosed back In March of this year at 37 years of age.
I wasn’t feeling well for a few weeks before, just tired and shortness of breath the odd time.
The wife told me to go to the doc for a check up, so about 2 weeks of her telling I finally decided to go.
I got my blood taking, and fainted as the nurse was taking it, all I remember is my whole body shaking as I woke up and not knowing where I was or who the nurse was.
Then the nurse did an e.c.g. I was told to stay where I was as she called for the doc. The doc told me I was in A Fib( which I had know clue what that was) and I was to get to the hospital NOW.
I spent over 8hours in Afib in the hospital, over 180 bpm resting, then I was giving some sort of drip that brought my heart back to sinus rhythm.
Take care of yourself lads
@Pat Rochford: Almost a carbon copy of me two weeks ago. Take care.
A good blood pressure monitor will give you your BP, it will also show if you have an irregular heartbeat. My sons bp would often flash as irregular so took him to the GP, who did an ECG, it was diagnosed as sinus arrhythmia. Change in heartbeat due to breathing, very common in kids (though he was a teenager).
High Bp runs in my partners family so that’s why we have a BP monitor, if anyone is out of sorts we test their BP.
The new Apple Watch detects this and should be discounted by health insurance. Hopefully the technology is made cheaper by Fitbit and android watches over the next few years.
Stress alone is a huge contributory factor for a heart condition, especially after the last ten years irish people had to endure. Of course proper diet helps as well as exercise. And stay off the fags.
Journal, 44 is not over 50
Anyone know if a Fitbit will monitor this..
@Tim McCormack29: no it won’t. That just gives you your pulse at any give time but it won’t detect an irregular heart rhythm.
@Tim McCormack29: Tim – If your over 40 dont smoke …not heavy …. easy on the gargle…. no family history – your sailing man…
But all men over 40 should have an service at least every 2-3 yrs. Check PSA etc.
The trouble is most men leave it too late .. early detection is the cure –
Better to be at a DOC. with nothing to worry about then in a morgue. ALSO Im not misogynist .. women dont really get hear issues till their 60s… Oestrogen probably..
I’m not sure I have a pulse. I can never find it!
Looks like a subliminal ad for Fitbit as there is no medicine that a pharma company will vouch for a medicine that will help AF
@Martin Dorgan: Your wrong, as I’m on Tritace, Xarelto, Bisoprolol, Janumet and a statin. Statins don’t just treat lipids in the blood but prevents parts of the heart wall breaking off and creating blood clots as well, so there is.
@Martin Dorgan: I have a friend on Eliquis, prednisone and Cardizem as well as putting her through a procedure where they killed small areas of her heart with heat I believe to correct her AF. Even now some think exposing the heart to X Rays might help those who suffer AF as well?
Joggers later in life are suppose to suffer from this condition from jogging too much, that is a thought…
Thank you of late I have had swollen ankles extreme tiredness, but sometimes slow heartbeat also over the last while I have been woken up my heart beating so fast I’m out of breath it is lasting a few minutes, I have put it down to my gallstones another thing while driving a few days ago I got this pain in my neck then a bout of intergestion which was painful but lasting a good 5 minutes is it time to see gp again? Thanks in advance for advice
@Cora Brooks: no need to panic but you should definitely go see a GP and get referred for an ECG. Good luck !
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