PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, 7th June 2010
Experts at Royal Brompton Hospital mark Arrhythmia Awareness Week
Experts at Royal Brompton Hospital will teach young arrhythmia patients and their parents to confidently take their pulse during Arrhythmia Awareness Week (AAW) - 7th to 13th June 2010.
Organised by heart rhythm charity, Arrhythmia Alliance, this year's theme for AAW is 'Know Your Pulse' - part of the organisation's on-going campaign to educate people to take an accurate reading of their pulse. To support this aim, young patients and their parents on the wards, and those visiting out-patients clinics at Royal Brompton Hospital, benefit from the expert guidance of its children's heart specialists during AAW.
Catherine Renwick, paediatric electrophysiology nurse specialist at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Patients or parents of children with arrhythmias tell us that they feel their heart is beating too fast or they feel their heart is beating slowly and irregularly. It is at times like this that it is important for patients or their parents to accurately take their pulse, so that they can identify any possible problems.
"Our staff are delighted to support Arrhythmia Alliance's 'Know Your Pulse' campaign. We know from first hand experience that it can be difficult for young patients and their parents to feel confident about taking their pulse and have encouraged our staff will make an extra effort during AAW to teach our young patients and their parents to know their pulse better. "
Commenting on Royal Brompton Hospital staff supporting AAW, parent Mrs. Angela Hendry, said: "It is really good, because unless you are actually faced with a child who has arrhythmia it is not something that you think about. To raise awareness and to give parents and children information about taking their pulse accurately can potentially help to save someone's life."
Arrhythmias (irregular heart-beat) describe one of two main things that can go wrong with the heart: structural problems with valves, for example, and the 'electrics'. Most people know about the structural problems but are unaware of the electrical defects which can cause irregular heart beats. The heart is a muscle which pumps blood to all parts of the body. It produces electricity to make the muscle works. Arrhythmias can occur in the upper chambers of the heart, (atria), or in the lower chambers of the heart, (ventricles) and may occur at any age.
The signs of an irregular heart-beat are sometimes barely perceptible, whereas others can be more dramatic and can even lead to sudden cardiac death. It is important for patients who have arrhythmias to monitor their pulse accurately, so that they can detect potential problems early and get the care that they need.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Shima Islam, Head of media relations
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 020 7351 8672 (Brompton)
Tel: 01895 828 877 (Harefield)
Mobile: 07866 536 345
Email: S.Islam@rbht.nhs.uk
Notes to editors:
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust is a national and international specialist heart and lung centre based in Chelsea, London and Harefield, Middlesex. The Trust helps patients from all age groups who have heart and lung problems and is the country's largest centre for the treatment of adult congenital heart disease.
