In January 2023, the Heart Rhythm Section of the Polish Society of Cardiology inaugurated the "Heart Arrhythmia Awareness Month". The awareness campaign on prevention, diagnosis and therapy of arrhythmia is addressed to the general public and cardiological patients. Cardiologists and electrophysiologists will teach how to take care of a healthy heart rhythm, prevent dangerous arrhythmia complications, such as ischemic stroke, and live longer and better - also with a diagnosed cardiovascular disease.

Arrhythmias, or arrhythmias, are a growing health challenge. In Poland, the most common type of arrhythmia - atrial fibrillation - in the population of people aged 65+ suffers about 1,250,000 people (19.2% of the Polish population).

Arrhythmias can be a symptom of other diseases (not necessarily cardiac), but also an independent disease, which as such can also lead to dangerous consequences and complications.

Is arrhythmia always dangerous to health and always requires treatment? Is it better when the heart beats slower or faster? How does a pacemaker work, and when and to whom is an cardioverter-defibrillator implanted? What to do to live longer and better with already diagnosed heart disease?

– More and more patients are coming to family medicine specialists and cardiologists with questions about cardiac arrhythmias. Healthy people often ask us, for example, about fashionable wearables - wristbands, watches and other gadgets with the function of measuring various vital functions, including ECG. Patients want to know, for example, whether they can rely on the measurements indicated by these devices - should alerts sent by them be the basis for consulting a specialist? People with already diagnosed cardiac diseases often have more detailed questions related to the planned therapy. How does a pacemaker work and how does a resynchronization therapy system work? What is the ablation procedure and how to prepare for it? There is often not enough time for comprehensive answers to such and similar questions during consultations, which is why, as a scientific society, we decided to familiarize the public, including cardiac patients, with the most important concepts in the field of diagnosis and therapy of arrhythmias - explains dr hab. n. med. Maciej Kempa, head of the Electrophysiology and Cardiac Electrotherapy Laboratory of the Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Electrotherapy, MUG, chairman of the Heart Rhythm Section of the Polish Cardiac Society.

As part of the awareness campaign on the Facebook profile of the Heart Rhythm Section of PTK and in the media, educational posts, articles and broadcasts will be published on various issues related to arrhythmias.

Cardiologists and electrophysiologists have developed, among others: "The alphabet of arrhythmia" - a study containing accessible definitions of the most important terms related to the area of arrhythmias, "7 questions about ablation" - a series of questions and answers of the Q&A type in an understandable way familiarizing patients with treatment methods arrhythmia as well as a number of other studies and expert comments. There were also materials on telemedicine: teleconsultations, telemonitoring of implantable devices and tele-solutions used in the care of the youngest patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

For cooperation as part of the awareness campaign entitled "A month of awareness of arrhythmias" experts from the Heart Rhythm Section of the Polish Cardiac Society invited organizations working for patients with arrhythmias: the ICDebrillators Association and the Heart for Arrhythmia Foundation.

As the organizers point out, activities as part of the awareness campaign will be carried out in January 2023, but regardless of this initiative, the Heart Rhythm Section of the PTK conducts permanent, year-round educational activities addressed to the medical community as well as the public and cardiological patients.

Source: Polish Cardiac Society