Atrial Fibrillation Awareness — MyAFib.org
(updated October 27, 2011)

Inside this section: Latest News For Clinicians For Patients & Caregivers More on AF Awareness

While September is AF Awareness Month, but the need for public education is year round! Patients and clinicians both are encouraged to visit this section frequently for news and information, including new AF Provider Education.

New Educational Video! The Society has developed an educational video for patients and caregivers on Atrial Fibrillation. The video contains more than one hour of content, with chapters including Overview of AFib and Atrial Flutter, Signs and Symptoms, AFib and Stroke, Treatment Options, Living with AFib and more. Listen to personal patient stories and interviews with expert physicians and nurses. The full DVD will be available to order in early November 2011. View Chapter 1 »

"AF is the most common heart arrhythmia and, unfortunately, many people know very little about AF and just how serious it can be to someone's long-term health," said Bruce Wilkoff, MD, FHRS, CCDS, president of Heart Rhythm Society. "The Heart Rhythm Society has developed some tools to help and encourage all Americans to learn more about AF by becoming aware of warning signs, risks and treatment options that could potentially save lives." Read complete press release »

Latest News

• September 2011 issue of HeartRhythm Journal focuses on AF (September 26, 2011)
• Save the Date for New CME Education Program (September 14, 2011) — Atrial Fibrillation for Allied Professionals is a new, complimentary program taking place on November 5 in Boston, MA
• Society Featured in Chicago Tribune Cardiovascular Health Report (September 2, 2011) — President-elect Anne M. Gillis, MD, FHRS educates readers about AF and why they should care about the most common heart rhythm disorder.
• New AF Awareness PSA launched by the Society

For Clinicians

• AF Education: learn more about AFibprofessional.org, AF-related self study opportunities, AF 360° Resource Center and more (updated September 22, 2011)
• AF Awareness Resource Kit — order these complimentary materials today to assist you in educating your patients and increase public knowledge about AF risk factors, symptoms and available treatment options
• Cigarette Smoking Results in an Increased Risk of Developing Atrial Fibrillation — large, multi-year, biracial study is first to show more than a twofold increase in current smokers compared to those who have never smoked
• AF Patient Education Materials and Clinician Resources Learn more about the Society's AF Patient Education Materials and Clinician Resources, including 2011's HRS Sketcher (available as an iPad and Desktop App) an educational tool developed to assist practitioners in explaining changes to the heart. Health care providers can facilitate a dialogue with patients regarding AF during diagnosis and follow-up (updated July 27, 2011)
• The Society's official journal, HeartRhythm, devotes its September issues to AF: September 2011 as well as September 2010 (which includes dedicated Rhythm in Review Podcasts)

For Patients, Caregivers and the Public:

Visit our Patient Resources section for information on the following:

• The Society's Online Guide to Atrial Fibrillation Patient Information, which offers describes the three types of AF, risk factors, symptoms, treatment options and much more
• Heart Rhythm Society President-elect Anne M. Gillis, MD, FHRS is a featured expert on AF in a September 2, 2011 cardiovascular health report by the Chicago Tribune — Dr. Gillis explains characteristics and symptoms of the most common heart rhythm disorder, as well as increased health risks for women with AF.
• Our AF-related websites resource list (updated September 13, 2011)
• Take Action! the Society urges its those in the United States to contact their representative to sign on as a co-sponsor of U.S. House of Representatives legislation H.Res. 295

More on AF Awareness

Calling attention to the need for more public education on the very serious heart health issue of atrial fibrillation — also known as AF or Afib — the Heart Rhythm Society is working to increase public knowledge about AF, the symptoms and warning signs and the treatments available. The Society has also designated September as Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Awareness Month — clinicians, have you ordered your complimentary AF Awareness resource kit?

The U.S. Senate first approved a resolution in 2009 designating the month of September as Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Awareness Month, reinforcing the need to raise awareness and garner support for initiatives affecting AF, a condition that impacts roughly 2.5 million Americans; on July 29, 2011, the Senate passed by unanimous consent S. Res. 243, Promoting increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation to address the high morbidity and mortality rates and to prevent avoidable hospitalizations associated with the disease — learn more »

Designed to help the public understand what AF feels like, help them to recognize symptoms and to encourage them to seek the support of a doctor to discuss possible treatment options, the Society's new AF Awareness PSA, "A-Fib Feels Like," began airing on select television stations in the U.S. on May 20. Learn more and view the PSA »

About AF

AF is characterized by a rapid and irregular heartbeat caused when the top chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver (fibrillate) erratically, sometimes faster than 200 times per minute. The condition can severely depreciate an individual's quality of life, causing heart palpitations, chronic fatigue and debilitating pain.

AF can also increase the risk of stroke fivefold and is estimated to be responsible for 88,000 deaths and $16 billion in additional costs to the U.S. healthcare system.

As the population of the United States and other countries ages, the prevalence of AF is projected to increase — projections are that more than 5.6 million adults in the next 40 years will be diagnosed with AF. AF accounts for approximately one-third of hospitalizations for cardiac rhythm disturbances.

Clinicians: for more information on treating AF, visit AfibProfessional.org, a collaboration between the Heart Rhythm Society and the American College of Cardiology.

The AF Awareness Campaign is supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and St. Jude Medical.