Lisa's story

Lisa is a 57 year old non elite endurance road cyclist, who was recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with increasing incidence in Australia.¹

In the months leading up to her diagnosis she noticed regular episodes of ectopic beats (skipped heartbeats), along with symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and light headedness.

Moderate levels of exercise have been shown to be protective against developing AF. However, it has been found that there is a U-shaped relationship between physical activity and AF, with increasing prevalence in endurance athletes.²

Watch the video to view Lisa’s full story.

A regular heart beats around 60-100 beats per minute in a steady, regular rhythm. If your rhythm is fast, slow or uneven, this is known as an arrhythmia.

Many factors can influence your heart rate, including fitness level, emotions, medicine and age.

If your heart rate is notably below 60 bpm or above 100 bpm consistently you should contact your doctor for further investigation.

In most cases, an arrhythmia will be no reason for concern, however sometimes it can be a sign of other heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia.¹ It causes your heart to beat irregularly and often fast.

People with untreated atrial fibrillation are at five times greater stroke risk than those without.³ It can also lead to other conditions such as heart failure.

Click here to find out more about atrial fibrillation.

Knowing your pulse can provide an important indication of heart health. Before checking your pulse, sit quietly for five minutes so your heart is at rest, don’t take it directly after any stressful activities.