Campaign to raise awareness of heart condition

FROME is taking an active role in a campaign to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation (AF) – a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.

Each year, the AF Association hosts Global AF Aware Week to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation, and this November, Frome will be actively involved. 

Information and support will be available in Sainsbury’s Lloyds pharmacy and via the Talking Bench outside Frome Library every Wednesday between 10.30-11am.  

AF training and patient information packs have been provided so that all staff are equipped with the knowledge to educate and support those with the diagnosis. 

The work in Frome is a collaboration between a Bath cardiac physiologist, Helen Hodgson, Frome’s lead pharmacist, Briony Cox, and the team at Health Connections Mendip. 

As the most common type of arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder), AF is a major cause of stroke, is linked to heart failure, depression, and poor quality of life. Despite this fact, many people who have AF are unaware, therefore detection and management is vital.  

Because the Covid pandemic resulted in many lost opportunities, the key message is “No More Time to Lose” and the main aim of the campaign is to Prevent, Detect, Correct and Prefect those who are at risk of developing AF. 

More information about AF and Frome’s AF support group and can be found at the following websites:  www.heartrhythmalliance.     org and www.affrome.org.