Community Education Program, ‘We’ve Got the Beat: An Update on Atrial Fibrillation’ to be held Oct. 17

[We've Got the Beat logo]It’s a condition that affects 2 to 3 million people and is related to about one-fifth of all strokes in the United States. The number of people with atrial fibrillation is projected to increase to 12 million by 2050 as the population ages. If you have atrial fibrillation or know someone who does, you’re not alone.

[Nancy K. Sweitzer, MD, PhD]“In atrial fibrillation, the heart rate tends to be fast and irregular. While some patients experience no symptoms, many have heart palpitations, a sensation of the heart racing or skipped beats.  In addition, the condition carries an increased risk of stroke,” said Nancy K. Sweitzer, MD, PhD, director of the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center and chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. “It’s no wonder that people want to learn more about this condition. In fact, it represents one of the most visited health topics on the Sarver Heart Center website.”

The community is invited to learn more during a special education program –  “We’ve Got the Beat: An Update on Atrial Fibrillation,” on Saturday, Oct. 17, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., in DuVal Auditorium at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, 1501 N. Campbell in Tucson. To register online, please visit heart.arizona.edu or click on We’ve Got the Beat. The program cost is $20 per person. For more information, please email heart@u.arizona.edu or call 520-626-2901.

Dr. Sweitzer will moderate a panel of experts including:

[Julia Indik, MD, PhD, Charles Katzenberg, MD, and Peter Ott, MD]Julia H. Indik, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at the UA College of Medicine and the Flinn Foundation and American Heart Association Endowed Chair in Electrophysiology at the UA Sarver Heart Center.

Charles Katzenberg, MD, professor of clinical medicine at the UA College of Medicine - Tucson. A board-certified cardiologist who practices at Banner - University Medical Center's North Hills Physicians Office, Dr. Katzenberg co-founded the Heart Series, Arizona's first intensive cardiac rehabilitation program focused on coronary heart disease prevention.

Peter Ott, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at the UA College of Medicine - Tucson, The Peter Ott, MD Endowed Chair of Electrophysiology at the UA Sarver Heart Center, and director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory and Arrhythmia Service at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson.

Edna Silva, RN, founder of the Center for Wu Style T'ai Chi Chuan and co-founder of the Heart Series with Dr. Katzenberg, will lead a T'ai Chi session.

Media Contact: Katie Maass

Release Date: 
09/23/2015 - 1:15am
Original Story: