Paul Mercurio is a man with many feathers in his cap.

He is perhaps most known as an actor for his role as Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom, which tells the story of a young man’s journey to a national ballroom title with his unique moves and the help of a young woman.

He is also a former Dancing With The Stars judge with a storied background in choreography and dancing.


And just recently, he was elected as an MP in Victoria after winning the seat of Hastings with 51 per cent of votes in the formerly Liberal town.

Quite a record, right?

But one feather in the 59-year-old’s figurative cap he probably isn’t keen on having is being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (A-fib), which is a condition characterised by a quick and irregular heartbeat.

Symptoms of A-fib include chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and overall weakness.


Unfortunately for Mercurio, his symptoms have worsened recently, with him having seven flare ups this year. Of that number, four were in the last few months.

What’s more, it was revealed on Wednesday that he was admitted into the cardiac critical care unit at a Melbourne Hospital to undergo ablation therapy to help regulate his irregular heartbeat.

‘Standing out in the street and feeling your heart go all over the shop was not a real pleasant experience,’ Mercurio shared.

‘When you go into atrial fibrillation there’s an electronic signal from somewhere else in your heart that decides: “Hey, I want to have a party,” and they take over and your heart can beat up to 150/200 (beats per minute), or it just goes out.’


‘I realised it has been happening to me for quite a long time over my life. I just didn’t know what it was.

‘But I’ve got to say, since I had COVID a couple of years ago it’s gotten worse… It doesn’t make you feel real good.’

Mercurio had originally planned to undergo treatment in 2023, but after an atrial fibrillation attack occurred during his recent 35th Wedding Anniversary celebration, he decided to act fast and undergo the treatment earlier.

‘That night I went into A-fib again. For no reason whatsoever, and I guess there was that point where I thought: “There is no way I can control this. It’s not going to be alright”,’ he said.


‘So we decided to do the operation earlier.’

On Monday, December 12, he sought treatment and was discharged the day after.

In addition to COVID, Mercurio also thinks the stress of the Victorian election season took its toll — leading to him realising he needs to stop ‘pushing it’.

‘I guess to some extent this is a wake-up call ... It’s hereditary, but there are things I can do with diet, exercise and relaxation,’ he said

Surprisingly, A-fib is said to be the most common type of heart rhythm disorder according to the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

An estimated 500,000 thousand Aussies have the condition, with one in every three individuals at risk of developing it in their lifetime.


Risk factors include an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of sleep and fatigue, diabetes, obesity, age, and family history.

A-fib is itself a major risk factor for stroke. If left untreated, it can lead to the formation of blood clots due to the slow circulation of blood in the heart.

Thankfully as Mercurio said, healthy lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and limiting cigarette and alcohol intake are said to reduce the risk of developing A-fib.

If you or anyone you know are experiencing similar symptoms, we highly encourage you to get in touch with a doctor for professional advice.


On the topic of learning health lessons the hard way, check out a similar tale from Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer.

Meanwhile, stay posted on interesting health news at our Health & Wellness forum.

If you have time, you could read more about why your snacking habits may put you at greater risk for heart disease, and why getting a good night’s sleep might do the opposite.

So, what is your reaction to this revelation from Mercurio?

Tell us your thoughts below!