Sanofi US has teamed up with crooner Barry Manilow in kicking off a national awareness campaign for atrial fibrillation (AFib) called “Get Back in Rhythm”.
AFib – a condition that causes the heart to race off its natural rhythm, the result of which can lead to heart attack, stroke and, in some cases, death – currently affects about 2.5 million Americans, with that number expected to grow to 12 million by 2050, according to a release. The objective of the “Get Back in Rhythm” campaign is to raise awareness about the risks of AFib and the importance of keeping the heart in cadence.
“When I first experienced AFib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary – it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest,” said Manilow, recalling his own experience with the condition in a statement. “I thought I know about all the risks, but it turns out I didn’t, so I was really lucky I had such great doctors helping me manage it from the start.”
Diagnosis for AFib can be tricky, and patients of the condition often do not recognize the symptoms before serious health issues occur. Manilow encourages AFib patients to take a Rhythm IQ quiz at GetBackInRhythm.com, which also provides information on risks of the disease and a printable guide for patients to bring with them on HCP visits.
In addition to the website and printed materials, this campaign will include a public service announcement featuring Manilow, which will debut this evening at the singer’s concert at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.
“I thought I understood the dangers of AFib pretty well, but it turns out I didn’t,” said Manilow in a promotional video for the campaign. “Logon to GetBackInRhythm.com, and learn more about all the risks of AFib, because I feel better when my heart and my music are in rhythm.”
