By Christine Welniak and Mellanie True Hills November 1, 2010 — New medical guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) incorporating the latest research put Europe ahead of the US when it comes to standardized treatment of atrial fibrillation. The previous guidelines, which were a cooperative endeavor between multiple European and American medical societies …
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By Mellanie True Hills October 27, 2010—On the heels of the US FDA approving dabigatran, the long-awaited alternative to Coumadin (warfarin), comes word that Health Canada has as well. In Canada, dabigatran is known as PRADAX™. Because this is the first alternative to warfarin in Canada, it is big news for the afib community there. …
Read MoreBy Mellanie True Hills October 19, 2010 — The day the afib community has awaited has finally arrived — the FDA has just approved Pradaxa (dabigatran), the first alternative to Coumadin (warfarin), for preventing afib-related strokes in those with atrial fibrillation. On September 20, 2010, the FDA's Advisory Committee recommended unanimously that the FDA approve …
Read MoreBy Christine Welniak October 12, 2010 – A new mini maze procedure shows promise in treating persistent atrial fibrillation. Developed by Dr. John Sirak, assistant professor of cardiac surgery at Ohio State University, this totally thoracoscopic surgical ablation for afib closely replicates the "gold standard" Cox Maze III lesion set in the left atrium. Dr. Sirak …
Read MoreTV STAR SUSAN LUCCI AND HUSBAND GET SERIOUS ABOUT STROKE BY SHARING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF LIVING WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION Facing AFib™ Program Drives Awareness of Increased Risk of Stroke Associated with Condition1 Ridgefield, CT – September 23, 2010 – After an unexpected diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of irregular heart beat they had …
Read MoreSeptember 20, 2010 By Mellanie True Hills Silver Spring, MD — An FDA panel today unanimously recommended approval of dabigatran (Pradaxa) for reducing the risk of stroke in those with atrial fibrillation (afib). The FDA doesn't have to follow the panel's recommendation, but usually does. Gaining FDA approval appears to be just a formality because …
Read MoreAs a founding member of the AF Stat coalition, StopAfib.org would like to invite you to attend the next AF Stat meeting. See the details below. Wednesday, September 22, 2010 Webcast: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EST RSVP Today OVERVIEW With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, policymakers and medical professionals …
Read MoreStopAfib.org, a patient advocacy organization for those living with the most common irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, announces the StopAfib.org Medical Advisory Board. "We are pleased to announce our inaugural Medical Advisory Board, which is made up of some of the world's foremost electrophysiologists, cardiologists, surgeons, neurologists, epidemiologists, and researchers," says Mellanie True Hills, StopAfib.org founder …
Read MoreRead the announcement about the StopAfib.org Medical Advisory Board The StopAfib.org Medical Advisory Board is made up of some of the world's foremost electrophysiologists, surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists, epidemiologists, and researchers who are on the forefront of atrial fibrillation treatment. The Medical Advisory Board will provide a sounding board to help StopAfib.org appropriately address atrial fibrillation …
Read MoreBy Peggy Noonan and Mellanie True Hills New research has revealed important ethnic differences in the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. Mexican Americans with atrial fibrillation who have had a stroke are more than twice as likely to have another stroke than comparable non-Hispanic whites, according to a new study published in …
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