World Thrombosis Day proudly supports BMS/Pfizer’s No Time to Wait Campaign
Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Shares His AFib Diagnosis Story
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has teamed up with Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer to share his atrial fibrillation (AFib) diagnosis story as part of the No Time to Wait campaign. Like many other AFib patients, Kareem knows how easy it can be to dismiss AFib symptoms, especially when your symptoms come and go. He initially ignored his symptoms and ended up in the hospital where he was ultimately diagnosed with the disease.
Symptoms like irregular heartbeat, heart racing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or light-headedness can be indicative of AFib, the most common type of irregular heartbeat.[1],[2] Unfortunately, symptoms of AFib are sometimes dismissed or ignored, leaving some individuals at risk for potentially serious health complications, such as an increased risk of AFib-related stroke.[3] Only a healthcare professional can determine whether these symptoms indicate AFib or another condition.
Doctors have options that can help reduce the risk of stroke associated with AFib. Kareem hopes others will learn from his story and speak with a healthcare professional if they’re experiencing symptoms. Seeking timely medical attention may help reduce the chance of AFib leading to something more serious, like stroke. For more information and to watch Kareem’s full story, visit https://www.notimetowait.com.
Click below for additional information and resources:
No Time to Wait AFib Fact Sheet
No Time to Wait AFib Discussion Guide for Common Symptoms
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What is Atrial Fibrillation? https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm. Accessed November 8, 2021.
[2] National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Atrial Fibrillation. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/healthtopics/atrial-fibrillation. Accessed November 8, 2021
[3] Wolf, P, Abbott, R, Kannel, W, Atrial Fibrillation as an Independent Risk Factor for Stroke: The Framingham Study, Stroke, vol. 22, no. 8, 1991, pp. 983–988., https://doi.org/10.1161/01.str.22.8.983
Share this post, choose a platform
Related Campaign News
Check out the latest episode of The ISTH Pulse podcast, "Silent [...]
Campaign is led by prominent medical societies to minimize discrepancies in [...]
World Thrombosis Day (WTD) is almost here, and this year we’re [...]