Mended Hearts Partners with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Support of Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Risk Awareness

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, and Mended Hearts is partnering with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to educate people about atrial fibrillation (AFib) and the increased risk of stroke for people with AFib.

Two legendary athletes have teamed up to talk about a heart condition they share in common with millions of Americans: atrial fibrillation or AFib, an irregular heartbeat that puts them at a one in three chance of having a stroke. Since diagnosis, 14-time basketball all-star Jerry West, and sports icon and 39-time tennis Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King* have been working with their doctors to start and stay on a treatment plan to help prevent stroke due to AFib. Now, for AFib Awareness Month, the two are speaking out to encourage others to do the same.

“More than half of people with AFib don’t believe they are at increased risk of stroke. People with AFib also may not realize their stroke risk changes over time,” said Michele Packard-Milam, CAE, Executive Director of Mended Hearts. That’s why Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Billie Jean King, Jerry West and Mended Hearts are teaming up to help those living with AFib understand their risk by offering a simple tool they can use to calculate their personal stroke risk at www.MyAFibRisk.com.

The www.MyAFibRisk.com tool is eight easy questions that can help those with AFib understand their risk and talk with their doctor about stroke risk management and treatment options. For every person with AFib who goes to the website and calculates their risk, Janssen will make a contribution to Mended Hearts.¹

Facts about AFib:
• Up to 6 million Americans are diagnosed with AFib, the most common serious heart rhythm abnormality in people over the age of 65
• One in three of all people with AFib will have a stroke in their lifetime
• When a clot forms in the heart due to an irregular heartbeat (AFib), it can travel to your brain, causing a stroke
• Blood thinners have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke in people living with AFib. Blood thinners have benefits and risks, including the risk of bleeding, so talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you.

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¹ For every unique risk assessment and consumer action taken between September 4, 2015, through December 31, 2015, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will make a non-tax-deductible contribution, with a minimum contribution of $35,000, and up to $50,000, to Mended Hearts, Inc. Mended Hearts’ participation is not an endorsement of any Janssen product or service.

About Mended Hearts
Mended Hearts is the largest peer-to-peer heart patient support network in the world. More than 20,000 members operate through 300 chapters across the U.S. Recognized for its role in facilitating a positive patient-care experience, Mended Hearts partners with over 460 hospitals and cardiac rehabilitation clinics offering heart patients support through visiting programs, group meetings, and educational forums. Mended Hearts’ mission is “Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support.” For more information or to locate a chapter, visit www.mendedhearts.org, call 888-HEART-99 or email at info@mendedhearts.org.

*Jerry West and Billie Jean King are paid spokespeople for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.