Killarney Advertiser
Friday 29th October, 2010-11-10
New nationally representative research reveals that almost seven out of ten people (69 per cent) in Munster are concerned about the health of their heart.
The data was released to mark the start of an awareness drive around Atrial Fibriliation (AF), and the Irish Heart Foundation’s publication of a new information booklet, AF and you, for people with the condition.
AF is a heart condition which affects more than 40,000 people in Ireland today. It can cause irregular and rapid heartbeats, which can make the heart less efficient at pumping blood around the body.
This can lead to palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness, angina and the development of blood clots. Overall, awareness of AF in Munster is at 31 per cent. Only 3 per cent of people surveyed in Munster say they have AF and 6per cent in the region say they knew someone with AF. In Ireland, people over 45 are almost twice as likely (13 percent ) to know someone with AF.
AF is more common in older people with up to 5 percent of people in Ireland aged 70 having the condition. People who have AF are five times more likely to have a stroke than people who do not have the condition. Stroke in people with AF is more severe, and is nearly twice as likely to be fatal compared with non-AF stroke.
Dr. Angela Brown, medical director at the Irish Heart Foundation, says: “Every year, we receive many calls from people about AF. Now there is a booklet, AF and you, and we want people with AF to contact us and get their free copy. The causes of AF are not always clear, but your chances of developing AF can be increased by several medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
“Fortunately, there are treatments available and AF can be corrected or controlled. People with AF should work closely with their doctor to minimise the risk of stroke, or other related heart problems”.
“The first step when someone develops AF is to look for any underlying cause. The history may reveal a background of heart valve disease, coronary artery disease or thyroid disease. Alcohol plays an important role in precipitating AF in some patients”.
“People with AF should talk to their doctors particularly if they have symptoms such as breathlessness, dizziness or palpitations, as new treatments for AF are available”.
People with AF, and their carers, are invited to call on 01 6685001 or email [email protected] to get their free copy of AF and you. Or send a letter of request to AF Awareness, Irish Heart Foundation, 4 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. You can also ring the Irish Heart Foundation helpline on 1890 432 787.