Almost two in three people don’t know that an irregular heartbeat is a major cause of / Nid yw bron i ddau o bob tri o bobl yn gwybod bod curiad calon afreolaidd yn un o brif achosion strociau.

Stroke Association urges people to test themselves for ‘silent’ condition, Atrial Fibrillation

The Stroke Association and BBC Morning Live’s Dr Punam Krishan are urging people to check for a ‘silent condition’ which is one of the leading causes of serious strokes, after a survey showed that few are aware of the link.

It is estimated that around half a million people are living with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation¹ (AF), where the heart beats with an irregular rhythm. When this happens, the heart won’t empty all of the blood out of its chambers with every beat and the leftover blood can form clots which travel to the brain, blocking off blood flow and causing a stroke.

A survey by the charity to mark Stroke Prevention Day on Thursday 12 January revealed that almost two in three people (63%) did not know that AF is a major cause of stroke.²

AF is linked to around one in five strokes³ – that's 40 stroke per day and strokes in people with AF are more severe and are more likely to result in death or serious disability.

Katie Chappelle, Associate Director for Wales, Stroke Association, said:

“It's worrying that so few people know that a little thing like how your heart beats can lead to a massive stroke.

“AF often has no symptoms and a stroke can strike without warning. Don’t let the first sign of your AF be a sudden and life-changing stroke. With early diagnosis and effective management of AF, your risk of a stroke dramatically decreases so it’s vital to get checked regularly.

“It’s really easy to check your own pulse and our research told us that most people are able to. Feel for your pulse on your wrist or neck to make sure it has a regular beat. If you suspect you have an irregular pulse, contact your GP Practice.”

The survey also revealed that:

• Over half (52%) said they had never checked themselves for AF
• Almost four in 10 (38%) said they had never been checked for AF by a healthcare professional
• More than half (52%) said they would be likely to seek medical advice if they felt something was wrong with the rhythm of their heartbeat/pulse
• 35% said they knew someone who had had a stroke
• 12% knew someone who had had AF ²
• References

The charity has a video guide on its website at www.stroke.org.uk/spd23 showing people how they can check their own pulse on their wrist or neck.

Dr Punam Krishan, presenter on BBC Morning Live, said:

“The good news is that if AF is identified it can be managed really easily. If you’ve got AF, you might be given anticoagulant medication to reduce your risk of stroke by making a clot less likely to form, or you might be able to have a one-time electric pulse to get your heart beating regularly.

“The most important thing is to check yourself and contact your GP practice if you think you might have AF. It’s so much better to get your AF sorted before it becomes a problem. Get it checked for your own health and for the sake of your loved ones.”

Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder of the AF Association, said:

“The AF Association welcomes Stroke Prevention Day to help detect more people living with AF, yet to be diagnosed. Raising awareness of the importance of pulse checks is key to detecting the irregular heart rhythm and leading to more people being diagnosed and receiving appropriate anticoagulation therapy to reduce their risk of an AF-related stroke.

“It is good to see the Stroke Association encouraging the public to be pulse aware to know their heart rhythm – this can save so many from the devastation that strokes can cause, it can even save lives.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Laura Thomas at the Stroke Association, at Laura.Thomas@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editors

More information on atrial fibrillation and stroke is available on the Stroke Association website.

¹Lang A, Edwards F, Norton D, Semple L, Williams H. Using mobile ECG devices to increase detection of atrial fibrillation across a range of settings in south London. Future Healthc J. 2020;7(1):86-89. doi:10.7861/fhj.2019-0033 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7032580/

²Research conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of the Stroke Association, December 2022.

³Ali AN, Abdelhafiz A. Clinical and economic implications of AF related stroke. J Atr Fibrillation. 2016; 8:1279. doi: 10.4022/jafib.1279

About the Stroke Association

• Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and it changes lives in an instant.
• The Stroke Association is a charity working across the UK to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. We believe that everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. From local support services and groups, to online information and support, anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100 to find out about support available locally.
• Our specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of our supporters. With more donations and support, we can help rebuild even more lives.
• You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Nid yw bron i ddau o bob tri o bobl yn gwybod bod curiad calon afreolaidd yn un o brif achosion strociau.

Mae Cymdeithas Strôc yn annog pobl i brofi’u hunain am gyflwr ‘mud’, sef Ffibriliad Atrïaidd.

Mae’r Gymdeithas Strôc a’r Dr Punam Krishano sydd ar raglen Morning Live y BBC yn annog pobl i wirio am ‘gyflwr mud’, sydd yn un o brif achosion strociau difrifol, ar ôl i arolwg ddangos mai ond ychydig sy’n ymwybodol o’r cysylltiad.

Amcangyfrifir fod tua hanner miliwn o bobl yn byw â ffibriliad atrïaidd (AF) nad yw wedi cael diagnosis¹, lle mae’r galon yn curo â rhythm afreolaidd. Pan fo hyn yn digwydd, ni wna’r galon wacáu’r holl waed o’i siambrau gyda phob curiad, a gall y gwaed sy’n weddill ffurfio tolchenni sy’n teithio i’r ymennydd, gan gau llif y gwaed a pheri strôc.

Datgelodd arolwg gan yr elusen i nodi Diwrnod Atal Strôc ddydd Iau, y 12^fed o Ionawr nad oedd bron i ddau o bob tri o bobl (63%) yn gwybod bod Ffibriliad Atrïaidd yn un o brif achosion strôc.²

Mae Ffibriliad Atrïaidd yn gysylltiedig â thuag un o bob pump o strociau³ - mae hynny’n 40 strôc y dydd, ac mae strociau mewn pobl â Ffibriliad Atrïaidd yn fwy difrifol ac yn fwy tebygol o arwain at farwolaeth neu anabledd difrifol.

Dywedodd Katie Chappelle, Cyfarwyddwr Cyswllt Cymru, Cymdeithas Strôc:

“Mae’n destun pryder bod cyn lleied o bobl yn gwybod y gall peth bychan fel sut mae’ch calon yn curo arwain at strôc aruthrol.

“Yn aml, nid oes gan Ffibriliad Atrïaidd symptomau, a gall strôc daro yn ddirybudd. Peidiwch â gadael i’r arwydd cyntaf o’ch Ffibriliad Atrïaidd fod yn strôc sydyn ac sy’n newid bywyd. Gyda diagnosis cynnar a rheolaeth effeithiol ar Ffibriliad Atrïaidd, mae’ch risg o strôc yn gostwng yn enfawr, ac felly mae’n hanfodol cael eich archwilio’n rheolaidd.

“Mae’n wirioneddol hawdd gwirio’ch pwls eich hun, a dywedodd ein hymchwil wrthym fod y rhan fwyaf o bobl yn gallu gwneud hynny. Teimlwch am eich pwls ar eich arddwrn neu’ch gwddf i sicrhau bod ganddo guriad rheolaidd. Os ydych yn amau nad oes gennych bwls afreolaidd, cysylltwch â meddygfa’ch Meddyg Teulu.”

Datgelodd yr arolwg hefyd:

• Dywedodd dros hanner (52%) nad oeddynt erioed wedi archwilio’u hunain am Ffibriliad Atrïaidd;
• Dywedodd bron i bedwar o bob deg 10 (38%) nad oeddynt erioed wedi’u harchwilio am Ffibriliad Atrïaidd gan weithiwr gofal iechyd proffesiynol;
• Dywedodd mwy na hanner (52%) ei bod yn debygol y byddent yn ymofyn cyngor meddygol os teimlent fod rhywbeth o’i le â rhythm curiad eu calon/pwls;
• Dywedodd 35% eu bod yn adnabod rhywun a oedd wedi cael strôc;
• Roedd 12% yn adnabod rhywun oedd wedi cael Ffibriliad Atrïaidd ² .
• Cyfeiriadau

Mae gan yr elusen ganllaw fideo ar ei gwefan yn www.stroke.org.uk/spd23 sy’n dangos i bobl sut y gallant wirio’u pwls eu hunain ar eu harddwrn neu’u gwddf.

Dywedodd y Dr Punam Krishan, cyflwynydd ar Morning Live y BBC:

“Y newyddion da yw y gellir rheoli Ffibriliad Atrïaidd yn wirioneddol hawdd os caiff ei ganfod. Os oes Ffibriliad Atrïaidd arnoch, efallai y rhoddir meddyginiaeth wrthgeulo ichi i leihau’ch risg o strôc drwy wneud tolchen yn llai tebygol o ffurfio, neu efallai y gallech gael pwls trydan untro i gael eich calon i guro’n rheolaidd.

“Y peth pwysicaf yw archwilio’ch hun a chysylltu â meddygfa’ch Meddyg Teulu os credwch y gallai fod Ffibriliad Atrïaidd arnoch. Mae’n llawer gwell datrys eich Ffibriliad Atrïaidd cyn iddo fynd yn broblem. Ewch i gael eich archwilio er mwyn eich iechyd eich hun ac er lles eich anwyliaid.”

Dywedodd Trudie Lobban, MBE, Sylfaenydd Cymdeithas AF:

“Mae’r Gymdeithas AF yn croesawu Diwrnod Atal Strôc i helpu i ganfod mwy o bobl sy’n byw â Ffibriliad Atrïaidd, sydd eto i gael diagnosis. Mae codi ymwybyddiaeth o bwysigrwydd gwirio pylsiau yn allweddol i ganfod rhythm y curiad calon afreolaidd ac i arwain at fwy o bobl yn cael diagnosis a derbyn therapi gwrthgeulo priodol i leihau’u risg o strôc yn gysylltiedig â Ffibriliad Atrïaidd.

“Mae’n dda gweld y Gymdeithas Strôc yn annog y cyhoedd i fod yn ymwybodol o’u pwls i ddeall rhythm eu calon – gall hyn arbed cynifer rhag y llanast’ y gall strociau eu hachosi; gall hyd yn oed arbed bywydau.”

GORFFEN

I gael mwy o wybodaeth, cysylltwch, os gwelwch yn dda, â Laura Thomas yn y Gymdeithas Strôc, yn Laura.Thomas@stroke.org.uk

Nodiadau i Olygyddion

Mae mwy o wybodaeth am ffibriliad atrïaidd a strôc ar gael ar wefan Gymdeithas Strôc.

¹Lang A, Edwards F, Norton D, Semple L, Williams H. Defnyddio dyfeisiadau ECG symudol i wella canfod ffibriliad atrïaidd ledled ystod o leoliadau yn ne Llundain. Iechyd y Dyfodol J. 2020;7(1):86-89. doi:10.7861/fhj.2019-0033 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7032580/

²Ymchwil a gynhaliwyd gan Atomik Research ar ran y Gymdeithas Strôc, Rhagfyr 2022.

³Ali AN, Abdelhafiz A. Goblygiadau clinigol ac economaidd strôc sy’n gysylltiedig ag AF. J Atr Fibrillation. 2016; 8:1279. doi: 10.4022/jafib.1279

Ynglŷn â’r Gymdeithas Strôc

• Mae strôc yn taro bob pum munud yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mae’n newid bywydau ar amrantiad.
• Elusen yw’r Gymdeithas Strôc sy’n gweithio ledled y Deyrnas Unedig i gynorthwyo pobl i ailadeiladu’u bywydau ar ôl strôc. Credwn fod pawb yn haeddu byw’r bywyd gorau y gallant ar ôl strôc. O wasanaethau a grwpiau cymorth lleol i wybodaeth a chymorth ar-lein, gall unrhyw un yr effeithir arno/arni gan strôc fynd i stroke.org.uk neu ffonio’n Llinell Gymorth Strôc benodedig ar 0303 3033 100 i ganfod gwybodaeth am gymorth sydd ar gael yn lleol.
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