Are You At Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation ( or AF) is a serious heart condition that affects an estimated  300,000 plus people in Australia and 35,000 in New Zealand. People with AF experience abnormal or irregular heartbeats. They often describe the experience as feeling like their heart flip-flops or beats very fast, though some people affected with AF don’t notice any symptoms at all.

Having AF puts you at a higher risk for serious health problems such as stroke, blood clots, and heart failure. Could you be at risk of developing AF? Print this page and check off the following risk factors that apply to you and share them with your doctor.

• Over age 60

• History of high blood pressure

• Obese or overweight

• Heart disease

• Heart valve problems

• Thyroid problems

• Lung disease

• Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes

• Alcohol consumption or binge alcohol drinking (more than 5 drinks in two hours for men, or four drinks for women)

• Smoking

• Sleep apnoea

• Family history of AF

This tool is not intended to result in a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation. It's meant to help you have a more meaningful discussion with your doctor.