Silent but serious
AFib Awareness Month focuses on detection and prevention
9/25/2025
Dr. John Johnkoski, Aspirus Cardiothoracic Surgeon
September is AFib
Awareness Month, a time to focus on atrial fibrillation, the most common
irregular heart rhythm in the United States. AFib raises the risk of stroke and
heart failure, yet it is frequently missed. The American Heart Association
reports that more than one third of people with AFib have no symptoms,
underscoring how often the condition goes undetected.
Smartwatches and
other personal devices give people new ways to notice when something might be
wrong. A 2025
meta-analysis found that watches using photoplethysmography (PPG) were able
to flag AFib with 97.4 percent sensitivity and 96.6 percent specificity. While
these devices cannot diagnose AFib, they can provide a helpful nudge to get
checked by a doctor when an irregular rhythm shows up.
“AFib is often
silent, but it is never harmless,” said John
Johnkoski, MD, Aspirus Cardiothoracic Surgeon. “During AFib Awareness
Month, our message is simple. Know your risk, check your pulse, and follow up
if you receive an alert. The earlier we detect AFib, the better we can protect
patients from stroke and heart damage.”
Raising awareness is
only the first step. For patients diagnosed with AFib, treatment may include
medications, rhythm or rate control procedures, and surgical interventions.
Lifestyle measures such as managing blood pressure, improving sleep, and
limiting alcohol use also play a key role. Physicians emphasize that detection
leads to more effective treatment and prevention of complications.
“Technology can
support awareness, but it is not a replacement for medical evaluation,” Dr.
Johnkoski added. “If you feel something unusual or if your watch flags an
irregular rhythm, reach out to your care team. That simple step could prevent a
stroke or even save a life.”
AFib Awareness Month
is a reminder that irregular heart rhythms should not be ignored. By combining
awareness with available tools, clinicians say more patients can be identified
and treated before serious complications occur.
For more information
about AFib, visit the Aspirus Atrial
Fibrillation Clinic.
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