Atrial fibrillation is another of the many medical conditions generally referred to by initials, in this case AF. It is important because it is already common but becoming increasingly so in the face of an ageing community, with more people living with heart disease or the lifestyle and other factors that make AF more likely, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension or diabetes.

AF is an irregular heartbeat and one cause of palpitations. If the heart beats too fast it can cause breathlessness. AF can come and go out of the blue or it can become established and permanent. Many people, though, live their lives with AF without knowing about it.

Unfortunately, that is not all there is to AF. It puts people at higher risk of stroke. One-quarter to one-third of strokes are due to clots formed in the heart in someone with AF. The clot breaks off and causes a blockage in the blood flow to the brain.

This risk can be substantially reduced with modern therapy.

To receive this benefit, people need to know that they have AF and then what they should do. AF requires a team effort involving the people who suffer from AF and their families, their doctors and other health professionals. There can be a number of options for treatment and people need to work with their doctors to agree on what is best for them.
 
Recently, the Heart Foundation and Cardiac Society of Australia issued their first guidelines on AF for health professionals. This comprehensive document informs health professionals about the latest evidence to guide best practice management of the condition. Doctors, therefore, have access to the best evidence and the latest information, but what about the rest of the community? We know from surveys that knowledge about heart disease in the general community is low.

This book is one of a series written by Dr Warrick Bishop to help remedy the situation. It is a personal account from a busy cardiologist trying to span the gap between what doctors know about AF and what those with AF and their loved ones need to know. It is informed by the latest guidelines but also includes personal anecdotes and the stories of real people who have experienced AF.

The evidence will change as this is an active area of research; new treatments and devices will no doubt come along. However, this book, along with other material produced by the Heart Foundation and other authoritative bodies, will make the reader more informed and better able to avoid AF and its complications.

PROF. GARRY JENNINGS AO
Cardiologist Executive Director, Sydney Health Partners
Sydney, Australia