Strokes are No Joke: A Comedian’s Quest to Raise AFib Awareness

Mike Albanese
Jul 24, 2017 · 3 min read

I make a living by making fun of myself.

As a comedian, my job is to share my failures, insecurities and life experiences with a crowd of strangers in hopes of making them laugh. However, toiling with life or death in a hospital bed before age 30 is no laughing matter. Or so I thought.

Born into a family with a history of heart conditions, I grew up mindful of the health risks looming in what I thought to be the distant future. At twenty-two, I was hospitalized for what doctors called an irregular heartbeat. From my vantage point, it felt more like my heart took a break every few seconds between beats for a breather. Not recognizing the signs of a more serious, long-term heart and blood condition, I shrugged it off for many years even after frequent visits to the emergency room. But by my thirtieth birthday, I learned I had a condition called Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, an arrhythmia that causes the heart’s upper chamber to beat out of rhythm and can result in clot formation that could lead to a stroke.

Though AFib is common, affecting 33.5 million people worldwide, it isn’t a well-known condition among the general public. According to a new global survey by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), only 48 percent of people worldwide are aware of AFib — and only 36 percent of survey respondents correctly identified stroke as a consequence of AFib.

An AFib diagnosis at age 30 terrified me, and an infinite number of questions instantly came to mind. Was I not active enough? Was there something wrong with my diet?

That’s when it hit me: this was no longer a problem I could expect to remain dormant until later in life. I had to confront it immediately.

I received a cryoablation procedure, which helps to restore the heart to a normal rhythm. I also took matters into my own hands and endeavored to live a healthier lifestyle. At my doctor’s recommendation, I started a daily aspirin regimen. I’ve lost forty pounds since my AFib diagnosis, cut out processed foods and exercise regularly.

My AFib diagnosis caught me by surprise, but I don’t want that to be the case for anyone else. That’s why I have become an ambassador for the ISTH’s World Thrombosis Day campaign, a global movement to raise awareness of blood clots and related conditions like AFib.

To do my part, I use comedy to talk about my experiences with AFib, reminding the audience that it can happen to anyone, no matter your age. I encourage everyone, from my friends and family, to audience members and readers of this piece, to learn more about the risk factors, signs and symptoms of AFib and join the global moment to help keep life flowing.

If I can save a life or two just by making fun of myself, then I’m sure I’ve got the best job in the world.

Mike Albanese is a New York based comedian by way of Atlanta, GA, USA. Mike can be seen as a recurring character on BET’s hit show “The Game” as well as in the 2016 feature film “American Dirtbags”. Follow Mike on Twitter (@bigmanmike) and learn more about AFib and World Thrombosis Day at worldthrombosisday.org.

Mike Albanese

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Mike Albanese is a New York based comedian by way of Atlanta, GA, USA. He’s an ambassador for World Thrombosis Day: worldthrombosisday.org Twitter (@bigmanmike)

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