Awareness of Atrial Fibrillation

Over 335,000 people are living with a chest, heart and stroke condition in Northern Ireland.

Atrial Fibrillation, or AF, is one of the most common types of irregular heartbeat in Northern Ireland and can increase your risk of stroke by FIVE times. Over 37,000 local people are living with AF, although it is estimated many more are living with the condition undetected.

Following a NI-wide campaign by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke (NICHS) to raise awareness of Atrial Fibrillation, and to coincide with World Heart Day, the GRAHAM-Bam Healthcare partnership (GBHP) team formed a partnership with NICHS to deliver workplace well checks to operatives. These not only included cholesterol, weight, BMI & body composition, blood pressure, and lifestyle risk assessment, but also raised awareness of and checked for irregular heartbeat (AF).

This partnership is ongoing, and further planned quality well checks are being rolled out to keep awareness of Atrial Fibrillation and to increase knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors on our operative’s agenda. This will facilitate individuals to make informed, manageable lifestyle changes so they can live longer, happier and healthier lives.