Myocarditis is an underdiagnosed condition that affects thousands of people each year. It is also one of the leading causes of sudden death in children and young adults, which comes as a surprise to those who are unfamiliar with it. However, thanks to patient advocacy, public knowledge about myocarditis is increasing. This includes everything from community-wide fundraisers to personal acts of raising awareness.
To keep educating the public, the Myocarditis Foundation has an easy suggestion to help patients with myocarditis advocate for themselves. Namely, they can do it by carrying an emergency wallet card or storing key medical information in their smartphones. Here, we outline just how to do it.
The Importance of Carrying Emergency Information
Myocarditis is a cardiac disease that causes the heart wall to become inflamed, making it difficult for the heart to circulate blood throughout the body. While the condition goes largely undiagnosed, many otherwise healthy children and young adults are affected. And in the event of an emergency, it’s easy to assume that athletic individuals don’t have cardiac disease and therefore may not be experiencing the effects of myocarditis.
That’s why it’s so important for those with myocarditis to carry emergency information with them at all times. Doing so can help inform the emergency nurses and physicians who care for them of their preexisting cardiac conditions.
One-Step Patient Advocacy
At the Myocarditis Foundation, we host regular family meetings for our staff, patients with myocarditis, and their families. During one of these meetings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attendees suggested that young adults with myocarditis should carry an informational card in their wallet to bring health providers up-to-date quickly and easily.
This suggestion was made in response to the preconceived notions that many people have about cardiac conditions. These notions often rear their heads when physicians take the complaints of young patients lightly simply because they look healthy. To help put cardiac conditions like myocarditis on physicians’ radars, we created this form that patients can print, fill out, and store safely in their wallets in case of medical emergencies.
Myocarditis Advocacy Goes Digital
If a young adult with myocarditis does not carry a wallet or is looking to boost their self-advocacy, they can store important medical information on their smartphone. When compiling this information, they should include:
- Identifying information (e.g. name, date of birth, address, etc.)
- Allergies
- Medications
- Diagnosis
- Date of diagnosis
- Hospital contact information
- Cardiologist contact information
- Emergency contact information
Here’s how to make this information easily accessible on Apple and Android devices:
Apple
Open the Notes app and type in the applicable information. Make sure to give it a clear label so that you or a loved one can easily access it if the time comes for a physician to view it.
Android
Open your Samsung Notes app and type in the relevant information. Just like above, make sure to clearly label the note or mark it as a favorite for easy access later on.
Another way to get this key information onto your phone is to fill out our form on your computer. Then, you can either email or text it to yourself and download the file directly to your phone, providing you with an exact digital copy of our myocarditis form.
Help Us Save More Lives
By taking these measures of carrying an emergency wallet card or storing information on your smartphone, you can contribute to the lifesaving efforts of the Myocarditis Foundation. To learn more about this form or other methods of myocarditis advocacy, contact us today.
