Atrial fibrillation is the most common long-lasting arrhythmia. The causes and symptoms of it can vary greatly. Atrial fibrillation is associated with the risk of serious complications, of which the most severe one is a stroke.
The risk for atrial fibrillation increases with age. Therefore, every person over 65 years of age should monitor their heart rate at least twice a week. With Awario, you will be able to identify and diagnose atrial fibrillation at an early stage, and minimize the effects of it.
The service can be useful for persons belonging to a risk group for arrhythmias or a stroke.
Age is the main risk factor for stroke, so every person over 65 years of age should monitor their heart rate at least twice a week.
Other risk factors in addition to age are being overweight, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, smoking, diabetes, and sleep apnea.
Awario can be used by adults who are interested in measuring and monitoring their heart rhythm.
The symptoms of atrial fibrillation vary individually. Some people might have a lot of symptoms, as opposed to some having none at all. Their condition is only detectable upon physical examination. The most obvious symptom of atrial fibrillation is heart palpitations where the heart feels like it is pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly. Not everybody gets a feeling of an irregular heartbeat; in these cases, the symptoms might be vaguer, like general fatigue or weakness. Even if the atrial fibrillation is asymptomatic, the risk for complications is just as big.
Atrial fibrillation can only be diagnosed with the help of an ECG. An ECG can be carried out at the doctor’s office, or at home with the help of Awario, developed by Heart2Save. For every measurement, Awario will generate an ECG report. Based on the report, health care professionals can reliably diagnose the arrhythmia and begin the treatment best suited for you. In addition to a stroke, atrial fibrillation can cause heart failure and vein thrombosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation reduces the risk for a stroke and improves the quality of life.
It is possible to have an atrial fibrillation episode that resolves on its own. If atrial fibrillation continues for less than two days, normal rhythm may be restored with electric shock treatment. Chronic, or permanent, atrial fibrillation is usually treated with anticoagulants (“blood thinners”) that are the most effective treatment for preventing blood clots in people at high risk of stroke. Beta-blockers are prescribed commonly as primary therapy for rate control in atrial fibrillation.