An alarming number of stroke victims this year in Miami Lakes and a personal experience with the ailment have prompted a fire Battalion Chief to launch an awareness campaign to reduce the risk of Atrial Fibrillation, which can lead to heart failure and even death.
According to Miami-Dade Fire Battalion Chief Abel Fernandez, more than 19 town residents suffered strokes so far in 2015, and they could’ve possibly been prevented through an awareness program.
As a result, the fire department and the Town of Miami Lakes are teaming up to raise awareness for Atrial Fibrillation through the month of October, culminating in World Stroke Day on Thursday, October 29.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S., where four million Americans are living with the effects of stroke.
Fernandez, a Miami Lakes resident who was recently appointed as Battalion Chief for Station One and Station 64 in his hometown, said Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, which is depicted as a problem with the rate or rhythm of a person’s heartbeat.
During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.
Atrial Fibrillation occurs if rapid and disorganized electrical signals cause the heart’s two upper chambers called the atria to fibrillate, which means to contract very fast and irregularly, Fernandez said.
“In AF, blood pools in the atria. It isn’t pumped completely into the heart’s two upper chambers, called the ventricles, and as result, the heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should,” Fernandez told The Miami Laker.
People who have Atrial Fibrillation may not feel any symptoms, however, even when Atrial Fibrillation isn’t detected, it can increase the risk of stroke, Fernandez said.
The health condition can cause pain or heart failure, especially if the heart rhythm is very rapid.
Fernandez initially brought his awareness program to the Miami Lakes Public Safety Committee last month and the two have joined forces to help residents combat Atrial Fibrillation.
“This year, we had over 19 strokes in our town and most of them could have easily been avoided with awareness,” Alonso said.
Fernandez said the crusade to detect the possibility of a stroke would not cost residents a dime.
“We don’t need any fancy equipment,” he said. “All people will need are their fingers, wrist, a watch and a pamphlet to determine if their rate is too slow, too fast or regular. You can be your own physician by checking your pulse.”
Fernandez said 60 to 80 is the normal heart rate for people but if it falls below 60, it’s a sign of a heart condition and medical attention is needed.
He said people who experience shortness of the breathe, dizziness and slurred speech should see their doctor right away to prevent a stroke.
Fernandez also launched the awareness campaign for a personal reason; his dad suffered from Atrial Fibrillation, which lead to heart problems.
He later died from congestive heart failure, Fernandez said.
“The number of calls for the paramedics responding to strokes from January to August was a lot, and many could’ve been prevented because they had an irregular heart beat,” he said.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, there are two types of strokes, Ischemic and Hemorrhagic.
An Ischemic stroke is similar to a heart attack, except it occurs in the blood vessels of the brain. Clots can form in the brain’s blood vessels or even in blood vessels elsewhere in the body then travel to the brain.
A stroke occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a portion of the brain is blocked. Without oxygen, brain cells start to die after a few minutes. Sudden bleeding in the brain also can cause a stroke if it damages brain cells, which occurs when too much plaque clogs the brain’s blood vessels.
About 80 percent of all strokes are ischemic.
Hemorrhagic is another type of stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures. It results in blood seeping into the brain tissue, causing damage to the brain cells.
The most common causes of hemorrhagic stroke are high blood pressure and brain aneurysms.
According to the National Stroke Association, 10 percent of stroke survivors recover almost completely, while 25 percent recover with minor impairments, and 40 percent experience moderate to severe impairments that require special care. Sadly, 10 percent of stroke patients require care in a nursing home or other long-term facilities, while 15 percent die shortly after they suffered a stroke, and 14 percent of stroke survivors experience a second stroke.
Alonso said a lot of people are walking around and don’t know they can be a strong candidate for a stroke.
“It’s a matter of placing their finger on their hand and listening to your pulse,” he said. “It can save your life.”