Hockey great Mario Lemieux was performing at a high level in the NHL when he first experienced dizziness and heart palpitations, symptoms he initially attributed to dehydration, or possibly even stress. After a few months of recurrent episodes, he decided to speak with his doctor, and learned that he had atrial fibrillation, a serious cardiovascular condition in which the heart beats fast and out of sync.
“It’s a pretty scary thing if you don’t know what it is,” said Lemieux. “The more you can find out about atrial fibrillation, the better you’ll be prepared to deal with its effects and the more you’ll be able to influence your outcome. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment.”
Are you at risk?
• The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. After age 55, its incidence doubles with each decade of life.
• Risk factors for atrial fibrillation include disease of heart valves, heart failure, high blood pressure and excess weight.
• Symptoms such as dizziness, chest pain, pressure, shortness of breath and heart palpitations can be due to atrial fibrillation.
Did you know
• Atrial fibrillation affects up to 250,000 Canadians and healthcare professionals believe that number will rise in tandem with the aging baby-boomer generation.
• Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of mortality by two-fold, the risk of heart failure by two- to three-fold, and the risk of stroke by up to five-fold.
• Symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation can come and go, making it difficult for doctors to make the diagnosis.
• More than half of Canadians (54 per cent) surveyed by Leger Marketing in 2009 reported having symptoms that could be associated with atrial fibrillation.
• Atrial fibrillation can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life and can lead to complications such as stroke, congestive heart failure and other heart-related problems.
• Atrial fibrillation places a significant burden on the healthcare system. Research shows that there are more than 43,000 atrial fibrillation-related hospitalizations each year in Canada, translating into annual hospitalization costs of $222.5 million.
• Medical research is leading to new medications and improved methods to manage atrial fibrillation.
If you feel you may be at risk of atrial fibrillation, don’t wait. Speak with your physician. To learn more about atrial fibrillation, visit www.heartandstroke.ca.
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