- Canadians living with heart failure pay tribute to their team of health care professionals
- 'My Heart Failure Hero' project is a collaboration between the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, The Canadian Heart Failure Society, Quebec Heart Failure and Novartis
DORVAL, QC, Sept. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - 600,000 Canadians have heart failurei and about one in five individuals will develop it at some point in their livesii. The 'My Heart Failure Hero' project launches today with the mission to help patients from across the country share positive experiences of care and compassion that have made receiving the diagnosis of this life-threatening condition easier.
The campaign objective is to increase awareness of heart failure by sharing patient experiences. The My Heart Failure Hero project celebrates the extraordinary cardiology teams at hospitals across the country - the true heroes working to help support people with heart failure live their best possible lives.
Canadians living with heart failure have chosen to pay tribute to the professionals who make a difference in their lives on World Heart Day. Heart failure patients from across Canada came together to tell us about their appreciation for the care that their heart failure heroes give them. These patients were joined by cardiologists who shared their perspective on why it is rewarding to help manage patients heart failure symptoms.
"When I was diagnosed, my first question was am I going to die? I didn't understand the symptoms of heart failure and it was scary for me. I could barely walk up my stairs at home or even lie down in my bed," says Marc Bains who was diagnosed with heart failure 10 years ago. "I was less afraid when I started understanding more about the disease and when I realized I was supported by a team of incredibly experienced individuals who are there to help me. I learned to trust the process and everyone involved. I really feel that Team Marc is an extensive team and the captain is my cardiologist!"
50,000 Canadians are diagnosed each year with heart failurei. It is a growing epidemic in Canadai and the second leading cause of hospitalization in Canada for patients over 65iii. More awareness is needed for Canadians to better understand the symptoms and the disease itself. The patients involved in the project rely on their team of experts to get them through the early days of diagnosis and feel a sense of comfort knowing that they can get in touch with someone on the cardiology team when they need to.
"The more Canadians are aware of heart failure, the more in tune they are with their symptoms. Heart failure is on the rise, affecting more and more Canadians making it a major health challenge. Heart failure for many can mean frequent hospitalizations and rehospitalizations. Our priority is to keep patients out of hospital and allow them to meaningfully engage in their day to day activities," said Vancouver cardiologist, Dr. Sean Virani. "At our centre we do our best to take a team approach with our patients. Some cases can be more challenging than others. The more good days we can find for our patients the better off they are going to be."
The My Heart Failure Hero project is a collaborative effort between the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, The Canadian Heart Failure Society, the Quebec Heart Failure Society and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
To view the My Heart Failure Hero patient/physician video, visit the Canadian Cardiovascular Society website at www.ccs.ca/hf
About Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. In 2017, the company invested $51 million in research and development in Canada. Located in Dorval, Quebec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 750 people in Canada and is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 125,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
References
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i |
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2016 Report on the Health of Canadians – The Burden of Heart Failure, |
ii |
Lloyd-Jones DM et al. Lifetime risk for developing congestive heart failure: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation |
iii |
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), A Snapshot of Health in Canada as Demonstrated by Top 10 Lists, |
SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
Novartis Media Relations: Patricia Tiramani, Novartis Corporate Communications, +1 514 633 7873, E-mail: [email protected]; Spectrum Advisors, +1 514 234 4095, [email protected]
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