You might be wondering why Sunday’s race at Chicagoland Speedway is the MyAFibRisk.com 400 . Well, September happens to be Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month, a moment in time that aims to raise awareness about the risk of stroke due to the condition, and the signs and symptoms of blood clots.
Up to six million Americans are actually living with AFib, an irregular heartbeat that increases the risk of stroke due to a blood clot. The condition, which puts patients at a one in three chance of having a stroke, can impact even top athletes, such as 39-time Grand Slam tennis champion Billie Jean King and 14-time NBA All-Star Jerry West. That’s why the renowned athletic duo are involved in this weekend’s race as Co-Grand Marshals, and why they have also teamed up with Janssen Pharmaceuticals — the Official Cardiovascular Partner of NASCAR — to tell their own stories, raise awareness of the risks, and direct those with, or are caring for someone with, AFib to www.MyAFibRisk.com.
Using the website, patients and those caring for patients can calculate their personal stroke risk. In only eight questions, users will get a better understanding of their risk and can work with their doctor to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment. Effective treatments, such as blood thinners, have been proven to reduce stroke risk in patients with AFib by up to 60 percent.
For every person that calculates his or her risk of stroke on www.MyAFibRisk.com, Janssen will make a contribution to Mended Hearts, a nonprofit peer-to-peer support network that inspires hope and helps to improve the quality of life for heart patients and their families.