A free, public, special presentation on A-fib, or atrial fibrillation, by Emanuel Medical Center and Dr. Fariba Amani, a cardiac electrophysiologist, will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 10 in the hospital’s Conference Room C.

A-fib occurs when the heart’s two small upper chambers beat irregularly, and often rapidly, causing poor blood flow to the body. Without help, A-fib can lead to serious problems like chronic fatigue, heart failure and stroke.

“Atrial fibrillation symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, tiredness and weakness,” Dr. Amani explained. “However, for many there are no noticeable symptoms. A-fib can be occasional, when symptoms come and go from minutes to hours, or chronic.”

A-fib can lead to heart failure when the lower chambers of the heart don’t completely fill with blood and don’t pump enough blood to the lungs and body. For people with A-fib, the risk of stroke is five times greater than people with regular heartbeats. During A-fib, the heart's upper chambers, the atria, don't pump all of their blood to the lower chambers. Some blood pools in the atria and when this happens, a blood clot can form. If the clot breaks off and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke.

There are medical and drug treatments to control A-fib but, as with most medical conditions, the best treatment is prevention.

The presentation is free but registration is required. Visit www.emanuelmedicalcenter.org/heart or call (209) 669-2300.

Emanuel Medical Center is also offering the following programs in August:

Jessica’s House (Grief Support for Children, Teens and Families)
When a family member dies, kids often feel alone. But grieving children, teens and their families can come together and share their experiences at new service from Emanuel Medical Center called Jessica’s House. The bi-monthly, hour-and-a-half sessions begin with a talking circle for the children and teens and conclude with activities offered in the art studio and/or play room. There is no set number of sessions; families are welcome to participate for as long as they feel support is needed. The program is free but preregistration is required. For more information or to register for a group, call (209) 250-5395.

Childbirth Education
Childbirth Class
A one-day childbirth class will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Aug. 3. After the class, participants will tour the Mary Stuart Rogers Family Birthing Center. The class is held at Emanuel Medical Center in Conference Room C; the tour meets in the front lobby. The class and tour are free, but pre-registration is required. Call (209) 664-2580.

Stork Tour
A one-hour tour of the Mary Stuart Rogers Family Birthing Center from 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 3. Meet in the front lobby. The tour is free, but pre-registration is required. Call 664-2580.

Breastfeeding and Beyond
Breastfeeding and Beyond is a breastfeeding support group for new moms that meets weekly from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Mother Baby waiting room, adjacent to the Mary Stuart Rogers Birthing Center. Nursing moms and babies welcome. No pre-registration needed and is free of charge. Baby weight checks available. Bring questions and concerns, and network with other new moms in the area.

Cancer Support Groups
Cancer support groups are free of charge. Contact Emanuel Cancer Center at (209) 664-2434 to register and for any questions. All programs are conducted at Emanuel Cancer Center, 880 E. Tuolumne Rd., Turlock.

Cancer in Your Life is a support group for current and former adult cancer patients. It meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month (Aug. 6 and 20) in the Emanuel Cancer Center.

Monkey Business: Children’s Support Group is an ongoing support group for kids, ages 5 to 17, who have a loved one diagnosed with cancer. The kids, along with their parents or caregivers, will meet with others who have also been affected by cancer. Adults and children will meet separately during this 90 minute-group, which meets on Aug. 5 and 19 and continues every other Monday. This support group is free, however pre-registration is required. Call (209) 664-5044 to register.

Look Good Feel Better – This program teaches beauty techniques to women who are actively undergoing cancer treatment, to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. This class will be held from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Emanuel Cancer Center Conference Room. To register, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 277-2345. This is a free program sponsored by Emanuel Cancer Center, American Cancer Society, Personal Care Products Council Foundation, and the Professional Beauty Association.

Free Wig Bank – The wig room at Emanuel Cancer Center regularly stocks hats, scarves, and lap blankets. This room is open weekdays to the community and not limited to patients of Emanuel Cancer Center. Call (209) 634-2434 for more information

Basic Life Support
BLS Initial: American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers Course for healthcare providers who need to obtain initial certification in BLS. From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. August 6. Registration and preparation are required. Call (209) 664-2580 for more information. $70 plus a $15 materials fee.

BLS Renewal: American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers Renewal Course. Three options in August: from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 14 ; from 8 a.m. to 12 noon or 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15. Participants must have a current BLS card. Registration and preparation are required. Call (209) 664-2580 for more information or to register. $55 plus a $15 materials fee.

Hospice Support Groups
Pre-registration for hospice support groups is now in progress for three September groups. Pre-registration is required for all hospice groups. For more information or to register, call (209) 664-2550.

For more information, to search for a doctor by specialty or location, or for an online symptom-checker, visit www.emanuelmedicalcenter.org.