<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A growing number of Australians could be living with a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health" rel="" target="_blank" title="dangerous heart condition"><span>dangerous heart condition</span></a><span> that can cause "the worst, most devastating strokes" – and they have no clue.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now scientists are fighting to prove the condition can be detected before it's too late.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/heart-disease" rel="" target="_blank" title="heart rhythm disorder"><span>heart rhythm disorder</span></a><span> that increases the risk of heart failure and stroke, and has been linked to dementia.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-1-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/b278c5bf-bd0a-4bfa-8d33-52238e106fdf" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump says US will be leaving Iran within three weeks</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Every day, six Australians die due to AF but symptoms can be vague, like breathlessness and a racing heart.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's one of the most common heart conditions in Australia and its prevalence in Aussies aged 55-plus is projected to double over the next 20 years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you've reached the age of 40, you already have a one in three lifetime chance of developing AF," Professor Ben Freedman OAM told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/atrial-fibrillation-aussies-at-risk-of-devastating-strokes-due-to-common-condition/52942c3a-8560-421c-951e-73ab3b61b7f9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than half a million Aussies currently live with it, but many more people may have undiagnosed cases that won't be detected until a stroke occurs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These strokes tend to be at the worst end of the spectrum, devastating strokes that incapacitate and cause people to need chronic care," Freedman said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These are really the worst sort of strokes that you want to do without [and] I think we will prevent them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-update-police-tracked-car-to-hideout-on-rural-property-before-the-manhunt-ended-in-hail-of-bullets/ceab03c4-6d99-4417-9e9f-ee674d52548c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Fugitive Dezi Freeman 'shot up to 20 times' during stand-off</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite the concerning statistics, there's currently no national screening program for AF.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freedman, alongside researchers from the Heart Research Institute (HRI) and the University of Sydney, is trying to change that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They're running the world's largest clinical trial investigating whether systematic screening for AF can prevent stroke and so far things look promising.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 600 Australians aged over 70 across NSW, WA and Tasmania have already taken part in the trial.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Participants used a handheld ECG device at home to check their heart rhythm four times a day for three weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A number of previously undiagnosed cases of AF have been identified; cases that likely would have remained undetected until a stroke hit, if not for trial screening.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>FUEL CRISIS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-three-month-fuel-excise-cost-passes-senate-in-bid-to-fight-high-prices/e8e6621c-5e61-44f2-ad60-e89df51c88a9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Servos cut prices as fuel excise reduction passes Parliament</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the government isn't ready take the trial screening program national yet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government says 'if you can show us you've got fewer strokes, and that it's cost effective, we'll fund it,'" Freedman explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not enough to be a good idea that looks as though it'll work, you have to prove it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Researchers at HRI and the University of Sydney intend to do just that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freedman hopes to save older Aussies from debilitating strokes and save their families the emotional and financial cost of supporting that individual after a debilitating stroke.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Reducing the number of strokes caused by AF could also ease pressure on nursing homes and aged care facilities, where many stroke patients end up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The trial will run for another three years, after which Freedman hopes the government will back a national screening program like the existing breast cancer and bowel cancer screenings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>