Arrhythmia Alliance - July Patient e-News

PATIENT E-NEWS

July 2018

Thank You For Supporting

Arrhythmia Alliance World Heart Rhythm Week

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported us and helped us to raise awareness of arrhythmias during World Heart Rhythm Week.

Thank you also to everyone who held a Know Your Pulse event and to those who helped spread the word by joining our Thunderclap. Please send us any photos and details of media coverage you received. We are currently collating the results and will circulate details soon.

We look forward to your support in 2019!

Celebrate STARS 25 ^th

Anniversary

2018 marks 25 years since STARS was founded. What started as a small support and information group is now an international patient organisation that has helped thousands of people receive the correct diagnosis, treatment and support.

Read how STARS began and all that has been achieved over the past 25 years.

"We owe so much to you, our supporters, who give up your valuable time to fundraise and support others and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you – we couldn’t do this without you!"

Trudie Lobban MBE - Founder & CEO

Click here to read more

Patients Day

7 October 2018

The ICC, Birmingham, UK

Believe in yourself and take back control of your life!

We understand that living with an arrhythmia whether it be atrial fibrillation, syncope, PoTS or another life changing arrhythmia can feel lonely and scary at times. This is one of the many reasons we run our annual Patients Day. Your attendance will help you take back control and leave with a sense of relief after sharing your experience with others, and having this once in a lifetime chance to be face to face and listen to some of the

world's leading arrhythmia specialists.

You do not want to miss this! Take this chance today to register yourself, your friends and family to attend this year's Patients Day!

View the agenda and register by clicking on your chosen charity below.

STARS / Arrhythmia Alliance /

AF Association

AF Stroke Risk Calculator

Every 15 seconds someone suffers an AF-related stroke. From the age of 40, we all have a one in four chance of developing AF.

AF is the most powerful single risk factor for suffering a deadly or debilitating stroke and having AF means that you are five times more likely to suffer from a stroke than someone without AF. Individual risk of stroke, however, will be determined by several contributory factors.

Find out your personal risk of AF-related stroke with the

AF stroke risk calculator

AF Association

Global AF Aware Week

19 - 25 November 2018

Over one million people have been diagnosed with AF in the UK alone, although experts estimate that at least a third more remain undiagnosed. With an ageing population, this number is expected to double by 2050.

For this reason, we are promoting our Detect, Protect, Correct & Perfect campaign and asking all of our supporters to spread the word, whether this is by simply sharing and displaying information, holding an AF Awareness activity, or fundraising and donating to the AF Association.

Click here to see how you can get involved.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arrhythmias

The objective of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arrhythmias (APPG-Arrhythmias) is to raise awareness for arrhythmias from within the heart of Westminster, and effect positive policy change.

Get involved by writing to your local MP, urging them to contact their local NHS trust asking what plans are in place to improve treatment for people presenting with symptoms of arrhythmias.

Click here to find out more and download our letter template to personalise it with your own experiences.

Patient Story of the Month

This month we have a truly inspirational story from Samantha. At the age of 14 Samantha performed life saving CPR on her Mum Mandy, 49, prior to the arrival of paramedics at her home on 1 October 2012. The paramedics used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to shock her heart back into rhythm following her sudden cardiac arrest.

Read her experience here .

We want more stories to add to our growing list. Share your story today.

Resource of the Month

NEW! Our information fact sheet 'Preparing for an Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation'

Written by patients, for patients to help them prepare for a catheter ablation, this factsheet is intended to provide general, non-medical information that will help the patient understand what is likely to happen during and after the procedure so that they can be prepared for the time they will be in hospital.

Download your copy today by clicking here .

More New Resources Coming Soon

Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT) factsheet

Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation factsheet

Junctional Ectopic Tachycardia factsheet

Arrhythmia Alliance (A-A) in partnership with the Story County, Iowa Sheriff’s Office has launched their Defibs Save Lives campaign.

Arrhythmia Alliance aims to ensure that Story County becomes a heart safe community. Thanks to the generous donations from the local community, A-A is able to provide the Story County Sheriff’s Office with their first Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald states, “After working on this project for several months, the S.C.S.O. is now installing our first automated external defibrillator into one of the deputy’s squad cars. Our goal is to have an AED in every patrol vehicle in the Sheriff’s Office and all Story County buildings.

Read the full press release here .