Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant healthcare issue with a high incidence of complications. Early detection and long-term cardiac monitoring are key to effective management of patients with AF and avoidance of negative outcomes. This program explains why the accurate detection of AF is so important. Symptoms of and risk factors for AF are outlined, and methods of detecting it are described, including short-term (up to 30 days) and long-term (up to 4.5 years) cardiac monitoring. This allows for appropriate early treatment of AF.