THIS week marks Hearts4heart's Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week (22-28 Sep), and with half a million Australians affected by the condition, leading heart physicians have urged pharmacists and other health professionals to get involved in its early detection.
Dr Geoff Lester, a vascular and internal medicine physician, said: "Pharmacists in Australia are playing an increasingly vital role in the early detection of heart conditions, offering an accessible first point of care for communities.
"A simple pulse check can help identify risk factors and guide timely referrals to a GP or hospital before problems become critical," he told Pharmacy Daily.
Dr Lester - whose own experience of cardiovascular emergencies at a young age led him to study medicine - is a director of the Hearts4heart charity, and wants all Australian adults to learn how to take their pulse.
"This can be a simple way to identify an irregular heartbeat in 30 seconds, one of the possible signs of atrial fibrillation," he explained, noting that for those unable to find their own pulse, a local pharmacist or GP can assist.
"This straightforward measure can help identify potential issues early and guide people to appropriate medical care before problems become serious."
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition in which the heart's upper chamber - the atria - beats erratically, and occurs when there is a disturbance to the heart's electrical system, resulting in an irregular pulse or heartbeat.
This means the heart is not pumping blood around the body as well as it should, often leading to increased risk of stroke - more than 110 Australians fall victim to stroke every day, with one in four attributed to atrial fibrillation.
"Atrial fibrillation should no longer be considered a heart condition that impacts only people over the age of 65," Dr Lester said.
"The younger you are, the more you're likely to think atrial fibrillation won't impact you, and the more likely you are to ignore the early symptoms like a rapid heartbeat or palpitations, dizziness, tiredness or shortness of breath."
An estimated 500,000 Australians are affected by atrial fibrillation - but up to 30% are unaware they have the condition.
"Many people are unaware they have atrial fibrillation until they have a medical incident," said cardiologist Dr Warrick Bishop.
"With early diagnosis and appropriate medical management, together with lifestyle changes and regular exercise, AF-related strokes are largely preventable," concluded Dr Bishop. KB
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 24 Sep 25
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