Hearts Beating - Minds Meeting

AF Association Press Release 

AF Association is hosting Global AF Aware Week (GAFAW) 18-24 November 2024 to raise awareness and promote education of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) across the Globe.  
 
AF is the most common irregular heart rhythm disorder and a leading cause of AF-related stroke and heart failure. It is highly prevalent with a lifetime risk of about 1 in 3 individuals after the age of 45 years. Between 2010 and 2019, the global prevalence of AF rose drastically from 33.5 million to 59 million individuals living with AF. Early detection of AF (with a simple pulse check to identify an irregular pulse) and implementation of appropriate treatment could reduce the frequency of complications associated with AF. That is why awareness and education are so important.  
 
AF-related stroke is the most disabling and in many cases fatal type of stroke. With detection of AF with a simple pulse check, many AF-related strokes could be avoided with anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulants prevent blood clots forming in a chamber in the heart therefore stopping the clot breaking away and travelling to the brain to cause an AF-related stroke. 
 
GAFAW is an annual event to promote awareness and save lives from this common yet little understood condition. This year’s theme, ‘Hearts Beating. Minds Meeting,’ highlights the power of collaboration in addressing AF. By bringing organisations, associations, societies, public, patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, allied professionals, and policy makers together, we can raise awareness and enhance AF care worldwide through our Detect, Protect, and Correct approach:  
 
DETECT: AF with a simple pulse check or mobile one-lead ECG - Know Your Pulse to Know Your Heart Rhythm – It could save your life by a simple check 
 
PROTECT: Against AF-related stroke with anticoagulation therapy 
 
CORRECT: AF with access to appropriate treatments  
 
There are many effective treatment options and the sooner someone receives treatment the greater the success of complete recovery. 
 
Not only would early detection and treatment save lives, but it would also ease the burden on the NHS and save millions in healthcare costs. 
 
GAFAW calls on governments to help increase awareness and access to AF Rapid Access Clinics. 
 
AF Association urges you to get involved in sharing of resources and awareness efforts. The charity has created a toolkit for ease in promoting this important awareness week including social media posts and resource packs that are available free of charge. 
 
“Awareness is the key to early diagnosis of AF and the earlier that AF is detected the better the outcomes are. Lives saved; NHS resources and budgets reduced – it is a win-win situation for all. We look forward to raising awareness along with our partners across the globe”  
 
– Mrs Trudie Lobban, MBE, Founder of AF Association 
 
“Thank you to the AF Association for all their help, having seen a poster highlighting the importance of monitoring your pulse, it prompted me to check mine, as I had been having some palpitations – good job I did as I was diagnosed with AF – without the support of the Charity I would never have considered that ‘Know Your Pulse‘ could potentially save me from an AF-related stroke.” 
  
– Jim, Sussex 
 
AF Association  
Atrial Fibrillation Association is an international charity based in the UK which focuses on raising awareness of atrial fibrillation (AF) by providing support, information, education and awareness. AF Association works closely with patients, carers, healthcare professionals, the Department of Health, NHS, PHE, policy makers and all those involved in or affected by AF. All information resources published by AF Association have been approved by the AF Medical Advisory Committee and endorsed by the Department of Health.   
 
Global AF Aware Week  
AF Association Global AF Aware Week is an annual awareness week that focuses on raising awareness of the importance of Know Your Pulse to Know Your Heart Rhythm – It could save your life, Atrial Fibrillation and AF-related stroke. For more information, visit www.gafaw.org