Not all atrial fibrillation patients are candidates for an ablation, either catheter ablation or surgical ablation, such as the maze or mini maze procedures. Thus their stroke risk remains high. We recently wrote about the FDA’s approval of the AtriClip device, which is implanted during open heart surgery and reduces stroke risk by occluding (closing …
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In this video interview, Emelia Benjamin, MD, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University and senior investigator for the Framingham Heart Study, discusses atrial fibrillation risk factors and afib prevention, including the role of family history. She talks about the Framingham Risk Prediction Tool for Atrial Fibrillation and discusses well-known risks, such as advancing …
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Atrial fibrillation is very common in those with obstructive sleep apnea, and up to half of those who have afib also have sleep apnea. However, few studies have looked at the impact of sleep apnea on the success of catheter ablation and whether sleep apnea treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine makes …
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On July 13, Chase Community Giving will give away $5 million dollars to 200 non-profit organizations — $250K to one grand prize winner, $100K each to four runners up, and $20K each to 195 others. Please vote for the Atrial Fibrillation Blog's sponsor, StopAfib.org. It's easy and should only take a minute. To vote, just …
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At Heart Rhythm 2010, there was an update on the results of the STOP AF (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) clinical trial that involved patients who received cryoablation using the Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System. At twelve months following these procedures, these younger, highly-symptomatic patients had better quality of life and dramatically decreased …
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AF patients are generally at a higher risk for stroke and thus may have to take anticoagulant medications, such as Coumadin or warfarin, to manage their afib-related stroke risk. With the FDA's recent approval of AtriCure's AtriClip device that is implanted during open heart surgery, afib patients and their doctors may now have another way …
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Catheter ablation in persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation patients has traditionally had low success rates since many of the triggers causing atrial fibrillation are dispersed throughout the left atrium. Thus isolation of the pulmonary veins, which works well for those with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, is often an incomplete solution for those with persistent forms …
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Findings presented at Heart Rhythm 2010 showed that stopping atrial fibrillation—whether through medication, surgery, or in the case of this study, catheter ablation— could potentially prevent the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and also reduce the risk of stroke and death. Doctors John D. Day, MD, and T. Jared Bunch, MD, at …
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Atrial fibrillation took center stage in a feature story in Tuesday's Washington Post. The article not only looked at treatment for atrial fibrillation, but also at what afib does to patients. The atrial fibrillation experiences of Mellanie True Hills, founder of StopAfib.org, were included in this story. Read more at: Washington Post Highlights Afib: Atrial …
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StopAfib.org is joining with the Arrhythmia Alliance (A-A), ICPES (International Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology), and numerous other international organizations in celebrating World Heart Rhythm Week. This annual global event is focused on raising awareness of, and education about, heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation and other heart arrhythmias. StopAfib.org is proud to be a …
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