FOOTBALL managers Sam Allardyce and Brian Laws have given their backing to a campaign for people to “know their pulse”.

A week of community events has been launched across East Lancashire as part of Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2010.

It aims to help people to understand that the pulse is one of the most effective ways of identifying potential cardiac arrhythmias.

Cardiac arrhythmia, a life-threatening abnormal electrical activity in the heart which affects the way the heart beats, can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, stroke and loss of consciousness if untreated.

More than 2 million people in the UK have an arrhythmia and it affects people of any age.

The Blackburn Rovers and Burnley managers, said they supported the campaign because the condition could affect everyone from elite athletes and footballers to ordinary people.

In a statement they said: “It is just as important for 'regular' people to know their own heart rhythm as it is for footballers and other athletes.

“Knowing your pulse could save your life and we would like to encourage people to back Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2010 and its aims to help identify and treat heart rhythm problems.”

This week’s events include a session tomorrow (TUESDAY) at The Library Building, in Colne Road, Burnley, on Wednesday outside the market in Colne, on Thursday in Broadway, Accrington, and on Friday in Nelson town centre, all from 10am to 3pm.

Susan Haggan, a long term conditions manager for NHS East Lancashire and one of the event organisers, said: “Knowing your pulse is one of the most effective ways to identify if you might be suffering from a cardiac arrhythmia.

“We are encouraging members of the public to have a better idea of what their ‘normal’ pulse is and to regularly check their pulse so that they can identify if there is anything unusual about it in the future.

You can download a simple four-step guide on how to take your pulse at www.knowyourpulse.org.