At a glance

• Know the name, purpose and dose of each medicine and take it as prescribed.
• Record significant symptoms and any pulse or blood-pressure readings requested by your clinician.
• Keep follow-up, blood tests and referrals current.

Managing atrial fibrillation

• Ask what heart-rate or symptom changes should trigger a call or urgent review in your individual plan.
• Take anticoagulants at the prescribed time and seek advice about missed doses rather than doubling unless specifically instructed.
• Check before using anti-inflammatory pain medicines, supplements or new over-the-counter medicines because interactions and bleeding risk may matter.
• Address sleep apnoea, blood pressure, alcohol, smoking, activity and other risk factors with your care team where relevant.

Medicines and devices

• Home devices can help record a pattern but do not replace assessment or reliably determine stroke risk.
• If taking an anticoagulant, tell dentists and clinicians and ask what to do before procedures; do not stop it yourself.
• Report recurrent nosebleeds, unusual bruising, blood in urine or stool, black stools or prolonged bleeding.

When to book a GP review

• Palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness or exercise tolerance are worsening or recurring.
• Your pulse or blood pressure is repeatedly outside the range your clinician gave you.
• There are medicine side effects, missed doses, falls, bleeding concerns or uncertainty before a procedure.

Follow-up

• Confirm who is monitoring heart rate, symptoms, kidney function and any other tests required for your medicines.
• Bring an updated medicine list and symptom record to each review.
• Review the plan after hospital care, a procedure, a new diagnosis or a significant medicine change.

Emergency advice

Call 000 for signs of stroke such as facial droop, arm weakness or speech difficulty; severe chest pain; severe breathlessness; collapse; uncontrolled bleeding; vomiting blood; or another severe or rapidly worsening symptom.

Rochedale Family Practice is not an emergency service.