On October 13, 2015, Claire Crawford was playing in a high school volleyball match when she went into cardiac arrest. Well-trained and quick-thinking staff called 911, started performing chest compressions, and retrieved the on-site automatic external defibrillator (AED) to defibrillate (“shock”) the heart back into rhythm. Claire’s parents had set up a camera in the stands to film the game and recorded the entire event. Click here to watch it, but be warned that you may find the footage graphic. Eleven minutes after Claire collapsed, paramedics arrived on the scene. Without the trained staff and the access to an AED, this story likely would have had a tragic ending. It didn’t, because staff initiated the first three steps in the cardiac chain of survival. Up to 40,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur in Canada each year – that’s one every 12 minutes. If the victim does not have access to immediate treatment, most outcomes will be fatal. But, according to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, when someone immediately begins CPR, and an AED is available, the chance of survival may be increased by 75 per cent or more. And use of an AED combined with CPR and emergency medical...
February is Heart Month! How will you celebrate? You could join the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s new Heart2Hearts campaign – make a pledge to take on a heart-healthy challenge and support the Institute. You could canvass for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or find other creative ways to offer support, like Diana Hannah has by donating a portion of the sales of her book. In between fundraising activities, you could sit back and read about Larry Bird’s arrhythmia issues, and the differences between an athletic and a non-athlete’s heart. You can even help the cause just by going to a hockey game! If you’re in Saskatchewan, go to the Estevan Bruins game on February 12, or check out these Manitoba Junior Hockey League games. Or if you feel like dressing up, check out Norton’s Razzle Dazzle Gala in Charlottetown, or the Heart Beat Gala in Timmins. However you choose to mark the occasion, have an active and heart-healthy month!
Here is our latest roundup of arrhythmia-related news and stories that caught our eye. Earlier this week, Shimon Peres was released from the hospital after suffering from an arrhythmia. Learn about more celebrities who suffer from heart rhythm problems here. Famous people – they’re just like us! The future is now! Read about researchers at Columbia University who use electrical signals to train the heart’s muscle cells. Are you a woman who has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation? Be vigilant, because this study indicates that AF is associated with worse outcomes in women than in men. Here is an interesting read about preventing sudden cardiac arrest in kids. (Click here to read about some CANet Network Investigators who are focussed on preventing sudden cardiac arrest.) One of the best ways to prevent sudden cardiac death is to be prepared. Here is a story about soccer teammates who saved a player’s life with proper training and an AED (automated external defibrillator). Have a great week!
It’s a new year and we’ve got a new batch of arrhythmia-related news, events and stories that caught our eye. Medtronic (a CANet partner) has great information for patients with atrial fibrillation or at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. This new study points to increased instances of cognitive impairment in people with permanent AF. Fabrice Muamba, a former English “footballer”, has launched a campaign to honour the man who saved his life when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a game in 2012. Notwithstanding references to hearts skipping a beat, there aren’t many poems written about arrhythmia. “Ablation” by Helen Mort a beautiful example of one, though. In case you missed it, click here to learn some practical tips for meeting your healthy living goals in 2016.
If you suffer from an arrhythmia, your doctor has probably explained that many arrhythmias are treatable via lifestyle changes, medication, surgery, or other procedures (Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada). Your personal course of treatment will depend on the extent and frequency of your condition. As we all know, “lifestyle changes” sounds like the easiest prescription, but it’s probably the hardest one to adopt. Whether your goal is to cut out caffeine, eat more fruits and vegetables, or become more physically active, the key is to incorporate that change into your daily life and make it a habit. James Clear, a writer who has focused his work behavioral psychology, habit formation, and performance improvement, has developed this guide for building a new habit. He has found that it’s critical to break things down into small, achievable goals, and to be patient – with yourself and with your progress. Especially interesting is the “Seinfeld Strategy” for keeping your momentum. If you find the new habits particularly difficult to adopt, here are some creative tips from Psychology Today for keeping yourself motivated: Pay yourself every time you meet one of your goals Create if-then plans (if I do ___, then I will...
We are excited to announce that CANet has joined the Imaging Network of Ontario Consortium (ImNO). ImNO has been running for 15+ years, with the goal of positioning Canada as an internationally-recognized country in medical imaging. That goal is strengthened by an annual symposium of imaging consortia, and ImNO is inviting CANet members to submit abstracts and scientific posters for its upcoming symposium in Toronto in March 2016. ImNO has four outstanding keynote speakers but the one CANet members may find of interest is Saman Nazarian, MD, PhD, from John Hopkins Hospital, who will be talking about “The Utility of Advanced Imaging for Ablation of Complex Arrhythmia Circuits.” This meeting promotes collaborations, broadcasts career opportunities, and informs trainees on diverse imaging applications. For more details please visit the ImNO website. We hope to see you there!
Here’s our latest roundup of arrhythmia-related news, events and stories that caught our eye. Check out this video that shows one woman’s story of ‘Getting Back in the Game’ after an atrial fibrillation diagnosis. Great work from Southlake Regional Health Centre, a CANet partner. Sudden cardiac arrest may not always be so sudden. Research shows warning symptoms are often ignored by cardiac arrest victims. My AFib Experience is a fantastic (and beautiful!) resource from the American Heart Association. Great information for patients and caregivers! Ever heard of Holiday Heart Syndrome? Click here to read about holiday drinking and your heart. (And don’t forget our tips for celebrating Heart Healthy Holidays!) And in observance of this year’s celebrations, here is a reminder that the Imperial March (Darth Vader’s ‘theme song’) is 104 beats/minute, making it an ideal song to use for keeping rhythm when administering CPR. CANet wishes you all the best this holiday season.
Here’s our latest roundup of arrhythmia-related news, events and stories that caught our eye. If you would like a clear, concise description of the heart’s anatomy and its functions, watch this brief but effective video from Meducation. And now, to better understand how an arrhythmia effects the heart’s normal functions, here’s a great explanation from Dr. Alvin Shrier of McGill University (a CANet partner institution). I thought it was a one-off with the story last time about studying atrial fibrillation in dogs, but apparently not! Free pacemakers offer hope to ailing dogs in Turkey Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario (also a CANet partner) has opened three new world-class, state-of-the-art cardiac care suites. And, in case you missed it, here are some tips for enjoying a Heart Healthy Holiday!
The Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) is pleased to announce that Dr. Bryce Pickard has accepted the position of Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer with CANet on a permanent basis. Dr. Pickard has been acting in the role since August. Dr. Pickard joins us from Western University where he was most recently the Executive Director of Research. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing Research Development & Services and Research Ethics for the University. Previously, Dr. Pickard was a Business Development Manager at WORLDiscoveries, where he successfully facilitated the transfer of Western technology to commercial partners within the medical device/healthcare sector. With a solid background in research administration, management and commercialization of technologies, we are thrilled to have Bryce join the CANet team. His expertise and leadership will be essential to the future success of our Network. Dr. Pickard officially starts his new role on January 4th. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Pickard to the team. Sincerely, Dr. Anthony Tang Dr. Pierre Boyle Scientific Director and CEO...
