World Heart Rhythm Week 2025 (WHRW2025) - One Heart Many Rhythms: Awareness, Action, Advocacy

Arrhythmia Alliance Press Release

Six million people in the USA have a 500% increased risk of stroke due to an underlying heart rhythm condition – atrial fibrillation – yet a simple 30 second pulse check could save countless lives over 795,000 strokes per year.

1,000 people per day suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the USA, 360,000 per year, with around 4-5 million sudden cardiac deaths occurring globally each year – yet early detection of an irregular heart rhythm could have saved these lives.

One million people experience unexplained loss of consciousness annually in the USA, and 39% of children and 30% of adults diagnosed with epilepsy are mis-diagnosed, and many have an underlying, potentially fatal, heart rhythm disorder.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

World Heart Rhythm Week 2025 (#WHRW2025) is hosted by Arrhythmia Alliance together with their sister charities AF Association and STARS (Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures) as well as organizations from around the globe from June 02-08.

Irregular heart rhythms are the number one killer in the western world. Yet many of these deaths could be avoided if we were aware of the rhythm of the heart and the importance of simple pulse checks. This year’s theme is ‘One Heart, Many Rhythms: Awareness, Action, Advocacy’, which encourages individuals to not only be aware of heart rhythm disorders but also act and advocate for themselves and those that are undiagnosed.

WHRW brings together healthcare professionals, those living with heart rhythm conditions, their families, friends and colleagues. It also engages with policy makers and politicians as with greater awareness, information and education the lives of tens of thousands of people could be saved, and when someone survives a sudden cardiac arrest and is unable to work such policies can reduce the financial burden through healthcare and loss of earnings.

Why is WHRW2025 important?

The most common heart rhythm disorder is atrial fibrillation (AFib) – the leading cause of stroke. AFib is when the heart rhythm is erratic and irregular. Small clots of blood can form and travel from the heart to the brain triggering an AFib-related stroke – the most devastating type of stroke. Yet with a simple pulse check or the use of digital EKG apps or devices AFib can be detected, and anticoagulation therapy and treatment to reduce the risk of AF-related stroke to prevent the irregular heart rhythm can save someone’s life.

The USA has 6 million people diagnosed with AFib, while globally there are over 33 million people diagnosed with AFib. Treatments exist however detection and diagnosis are still falling short, so throughout WHRW Arrhythmia Alliance and their partners will host FREE pulse checks in various communities teaching the public how to take a simple 30 second pulse check, recognize an irregular heart rhythm and seek medical advice.

Know Your Pulse to Know Your Heart Rhythm – it could save your life!

In the USA, around 80% of strokes are considered preventable. This means that a majority of strokes can be avoided through lifestyle modifications and by managing underlying health conditions. Specifically, the CDC estimates that every year, over 795,000 people have a stroke, and about 140,000 die from them, even though many of those deaths are preventable. We each have a 1 in 4 chance of developing AFib over the age of 40 which increases our risk of AFib-related stroke by 500%. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is responsible for about 50% of cardiovascular disease mortality in developed countries; the majority of these deaths are due to an irregular, fatal heart rhythm triggering a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Estimates suggest that around 4-5 million cases of sudden cardiac death occur globally each year.

1,000 people per day suffer SCA in USA – 360,000 per year .

Globally, approximately 30-40% of the general population experiences at least one episode of vasovagal syncope in their lifetime. One million people experience unexplained loss of consciousness annually in the USA, which is often a sign of an undiagnosed, potentially fatal, heart rhythm disorder

39% of children and 30% of adults diagnosed with epilepsy are misdiagnosed, with many having an underlying heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) that could be fatal.

Founder and CEO of Arrhythmia Alliance, Trudie Lobban MBE, FRCP (Edin), said:

“We all know heart disease is the number one killer and yet most people think of ‘a massive heart attack’ and rarely does someone think about the rhythm of their heart, only their heart rate. This is the 21st anniversary of WHRW and although more people are being detected, diagnosed and the irregular rhythm being corrected there are still hundreds of thousands who will lose a loved one from sudden cardiac arrest or an AF-related stroke needlessly. We are calling on everyone young and old to do something for 30 seconds which could literally save their lives. Check the rhythm of your heart regularly as not all arrhythmias show symptoms. Know Your Pulse to Know Your Heart Rhythm – it could save your live and the lives of your loved ones.”

Heart rhythm disorders affect anyone, of any age and at any time, we all only have one heart and yet we can have many rhythms – we are all at risk – act today.

World Heart Rhythm Week (WHRW)

Get Involved with World Heart Rhythm Week by downloading the social media toolkit, ordering virtual or physical resource packs, attending or hosting a Know Your Pulse Event or by calling or emailing Arrhythmia Alliance to see how you can get involved - remember anyone of any age and at any time can develop a heart rhythm disorder. Email info-us@heartrhythmalliance.org or visit https://heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/us/get-involved/world-heart-rhythm-week

Know Your Pulse (KYP)

30 seconds is all it takes – watch listen and learn how you and your loved ones can detect an irregular heart rhythm and potentially avoid stroke and sudden cardiac death. The KYP program promotes the need for us to be aware of our pulse and for the need to perform routine manual pulse checks. Know Your Pulse events can be held anywhere in the world, including hospitals, shopping malls, parks and schools. If pulse checks are routine thousands of lives could be saved, and thousands of debilitating strokes could be prevented every year. www.knowyourpulse-us.org

Arrhythmia Alliance (A-A)

Working together to improve the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for all those affected by arrhythmias. A-A is a coalition of charities, patients and patient groups, carers, medical groups and allied professionals. Although these groups remain independent, they work together under the A-A umbrella to prove timely and effective diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias. A-A provides support, information, education and awareness to all those affected by or involved in the care of cardiac arrhythmias. www.heartrhythmalliance.org

AF Association

Working to provide information, support and access to established, new or innovative treatments for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). www.afa-us.org

STARS (Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures):

Working together to improve the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for all those affected by syncope. www.stars-us.org