KELOWNA CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES PATIENT COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
Dr. Frank Halperin MD, FRCPC, FACC Cardiologist The Importance of Anticoagulants and Stroke Prevention in AFib Patients
Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias heart rhythm disorders that we see. In fact, everyone has a one in four chance of developing atrial fibrillation in our lifetime. Why is that important? Well, if you develop atrial fibrillation it increases your chance of a devastating condition called stroke. And in fact, it increases that likelihood by five times.
Ms. Nicole Gorman MN-NP(F), CCN(C) Nurse Taking Control of Atrial Fibrillation Through Healthy Living - Kelowna Hospital
Often people with atrial fibrillation want to know: can they lead a normal life and what does that entail? Is their life over, the way they know it? And really it’s actually the opposite, we encourage people to carry on with their usual activities. We want people to stay active and do the things that they enjoy. And the goals of management are to actually promote ongoing quality of life and symptom management.
Dr. Kevin Pistawka MD,MC, FRCSC, Cardiologist Pacemaker Technology and Insertion
A pacemaker is a sophisticated medical device that is typically implanted under the skin in the chest or abdomen to manage a slow heart rate. The pacemaker system consists of two main components. The first is the pacemaker generator, the pulse generator. It houses the battery and the electronics that are required to analyze information and control the impulses that are sent to the heart to manage the heart rate.