Awareness Events

PACE is most certainly creating worldwide Heart Rhythm Awareness especially amongst young fit athletes.

Caryn Stanley from South Africa but based in London organized 10 athletes to participate in the Swiss Ironman 70.3 in Rappersil- Jona on 6 June 2010, one day before the start of World Heart Rhythm Week. They wore  PACE IRONMAN outfits and everyone finished a great race!

Awareness of heart rhythm abnormalities are vital for the prevention of  sudden cardiac arrest or death. This is especially important amongst apparently fit young sports people as they may have an underlying heart condition of which they are unaware of.

It was definitely an experience to be part of such an event.

Soccer spectators pick up the ‘pace’ at Soccer City

Johannesburg 22 May 2010 – Soccer legend, Lucas Radebe, led thousands of fans in a world record attempt to have the most people take their pulse at the same time. This feat, held during halftime at the Nedbank Cup Final at Soccer City, was conducted in aid of the global ‘Know Your Pulse’ campaign; forming part of World Heart Rhythm Week which will be held from the 7-13 June 2010. The initiative aims to raise awareness about heart arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest or death (SCA). These conditions can occur in apparently healthy, young and fit people, and is often caused by an arrhythmic (out of rhythm) heartbeat of which the person is unaware.

Lucas, in partnership with PACE (Prevent Arrhythmic Cardiac Events), took a moment to remember Mark Vivien Foe, a Cameroonian football player who died of SCA during a match. PACE – an NGO founded in 2004 by Lusan Luscombe, Prof. A Okreglicki and Prof. Paul Brink - aims to raise awareness about arrhythmic cardiac conditions and provide support for those affected by it.

He then highlighted that arrhythmia conditions can afflict even the greatest and bravest heroes: “One day I was at the gym and suddenly collapsed. It turned out I had a heart condition and I now have a pacemaker and can live a normal life. Being aware of your pulse is important because it may indicate an abnormal heart rhythm.”

The FIFA Medical Committee views the prevention of SCA as a major objective of their preventive and educational efforts. To this end, a standardised pre-competition medical assessment of all players was implemented at FIFA competitions and an emergency action plan for incidents on the pitch and in stadiums is part of the requirements for local organisers and promoted by the ‘Football emergency medicine programme’ of FIFA.

Symptoms or indications of possible life-threatening arrhythmia include unusual fainting episodes or collapse; palpitations associated with dizziness and shortness of breath; discomfort; pain or pressure in the chest during exercise and unexplained seizure disorder.  Arrhythmias resulting in SCA must be considered as the cause of death in: death attributed to asthma or epilepsy; death during or shortly after vigorous exercise and death caused seemingly by a ‘heart attack’ or ‘natural causes’.  Not all arrhythmias are dangerous; some may be just a nuisance, but it may require an expert to tell the difference.
The prevention, management and treatment of arrhythmic cardiac conditions and SCA include raising awareness of the symptoms and treatment, medication, ablation (a procedure to correct the electrical disorder in the heart) and surgery. Other methods include electrical cardioversion or defibrillation (shocking the heart), heart transplants and the implantation of a device such as a pacemaker, which regulates the heart beat, or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a device which paces and automatically shocks the heart back into a regular rhythm when necessary.
The ‘Know Your Pulse’ world record attempt at Soccer City was sponsored by the Medtronic Foundation, which aims to improve the health of people with chronic diseases and educate future generations through grants and community involvement.

INVITATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
 
PACE has been invited to give a presentation and be a panellist on Saturday 15 May 2010 at the Heart Rhythm Society Congress in Denver, Colorado.
 
The session description is: Supporting the Patient: A Global Perspective
 
This is indeed a unique opportunity as PACE initiated this first of a kind session at the Congress. The participants are from across the globe representing arrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest advocacy and support organisations as well as leading research and cardiac rehabilitation specialists.
 
This is an excellent opportunity to share and learn from each other in order to make a world -wide difference in improved arrhythmia care. 
 
Learning objectives:
• Illustrate the activities and resources available through international patient organizations that support arrhythmia patients and their caregivers.
• Create a dialogue between healthcare professionals and advocacy organizations about the key issues affecting patients internationally.
• Explain the best methods of creating and enhancing patient support groups.

Visit http://www.hrsonline.org/ for further information.