WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease today announced the launch of the first Virtual Support Network specifically for women living with atrial fibrillation (afib) – a serious heart condition that carries a high risk of stroke. The WomenHeart Virtual Support Network is part of WomenHeart's national patient and public education campaign about afib and stroke risk and is designed to provide critical education and emotional support to women living with the heart condition. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women and afib affects millions of women. Stroke related to afib is more common in women than in men with afib. Since 2002, WomenHeart has been the only national organization providing patient support exclusively for women living with heart disease. This first Virtual Support Network for women with a specific form of heart disease is a significant advance in reaching all women who live with heart disease – a chronic and life-threatening medical condition.
"Afib is a serious heart condition that affects millions of women nationwide. WomenHeart is excited to offer this new and expanded free patient support service to these women to provide them and their caregivers the opportunity to better understand how to manage afib and their stroke risk to live a more heart healthy life," said Mary McGowan, Chief Executive Officer, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.
If you are a woman living with afib, or a caregiver to a woman living with afib, register now to learn more about this exciting opportunity. The WomenHeart Virtual Support Network will be led by two WomenHeart Champions – women living with heart disease who are trained volunteer Support Network Coordinators for WomenHeart. Each 1-hour meeting will consist of a telephone presentation about a key topic in women's heart health, educational materials, and time for discussion and question and answer with Annabelle Volgman, MD, member of the WomenHeart Scientific Advisory Council and McMullan-Eybel Chair for Excellence in Clinical Cardiology, Professor of Medicine, Rush College of Medicine, Medical Director, Rush Heart Center for Women. In addition, the program includes a message board where Virtual Support Network attendees can post about their experience and journey living with afib, and ask questions which will be responded to by Dr. Volgman. To participate in the Virtual Support Network, register now to become a member of Healtheo360.
WomenHeart's free patient support programs span the country and are available in many forms: in person, peer led Support Networks in 40 states; SisterMatch online and telephone support; HeartScarves in hospital visitation program for newly diagnosed women heart patients; and now Virtual Support Networks designed to reach women from anywhere at the designated date and time. To learn more about WomenHeart's free patient support programs, visit www.womenheart.org.
The Virtual Support Network is part of WomenHeart's national public education campaign on afib and stroke risk and is supported by a grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb.
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