MP knows his pulse

Jim Dobbin MP has his pulse checked

Jim Dobbin MP for Heywood and Middleton, Castleton, Norden and Bamford has pushed for better understanding of heartbeat disorders during Arrhythmia Awareness Week (8-14 June).

Know Your Pulse was the theme of this year’s Arrhythmia Awareness Week, run by the Arrhythmia Alliance to encourage and educate people on knowing their pulse to promote timely diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders. The Know your Pulse initiative was launched at a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons on where Jim Dobbin MP took part in a demo of a pulse-taking procedure as part of the drive to make heartbeat disorders a priority for the NHS.

Mr Dobbin said: “1% of the population suffers from atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder and a condition that can cause long term health complications if it goes undetected. A pulse check is an easy way of identifying heart rhythm disorders and I urge my constituents in Heywood & Middleton to make sure they seek a pulse check when visiting their GP. It is an extremely simple procedure and could save many lives.”

“Earlier identification of heartbeat disorders is crucial in reducing the number of premature deaths from cardiac arrhythmias, as well as reducing the chance of life-threatening incidents,” says Trudie Lobban, founder and trustee of the Arrhythmia Alliance. “It makes sense that pulse checks, which are quick and easy to do, should be routinely included with other health screening checks such as blood pressure and weight”.

With AF, the irregular and rapid beating of the heart results in it becoming less efficient at pumping blood around the body and can cause breathlessness, dizziness, angina and development of blood clots. People with AF may have a dramatically reduced quality of life and face long-term serious complications; they are also nearly five times more likely to develop a stroke. Despite AF becoming a growing public health concern, it remains a misunderstood and under-recognised disease.