The Journal of Atrial Fibrillation is a brand new journal focused on irregular heart rhythms and on improving treatment of atrial fibrillation patients. Dr. Andrea Natale is the Editor-in-Chief, and dozens of other well-known EPs and surgeons from around the globe serve as editors. They will be adding patient info over time, but the first issue …
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Since the shocking death of political commentator Tim Russert a few days ago, we have seen a huge outpouring of love and respect for this man who was so admired. I admired him, too, but this post is not about what his life taught us, but about what his death taught us. Many of us with …
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One topic, AV node ablation, makes the rounds of the atrial fibrillation discussion groups on a regular basis, and has just come back around again. All at about the same time, several afib patients' doctors have insisted that they have an AV node ablation with a pacemaker implant. Thus they have come seeking others' experiences. …
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The Atrial Fibrillation Association in the UK, which is affiliated with the Arrhythmia Alliance, has announced that the Arrhythmia Alliance and the International Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology Society are partnering to celebrate Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2008 June 9th-15th and World Heart Rhythm Awareness Day on June 13th. These events are aimed at raising awareness of heart rhythm disorders and sudden cardiac death. More …
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Atrial fibrillation is different for women. It just is. If you're a woman living with afib, you know. You may want to read The Patient's Perspective: Women Living with Atrial Fibrillation, a free magazine from the Embrace Your Heart(TM) Wellness Initiative done in partnership with StopAfib.org. The purpose of this magazine is to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation in women …
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Since I posted a few days ago on Statins Help Women with Atrial Fibrillation, Hans Larsen, owner of the Lone Atrial Fibrillation Bulletin Board, created a great recap of studies related to inflammation and atrial fibrillation, including lone atrial fibrillation (afib without any underlying heart disease). It's definitely worth checking out to find out more about inflammation. Some findings he included …
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Tasers have been very controversial in light of recent Taser deaths from cardiac arrest. But some studies say that tasers don't affect the heart. So much for that theory! The Annals of Emergency Medicine discusses the case of a belligerent young man who had eluded police, but was finally captured. He was being checked out in the emergency room when …
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I'm mad and must post this before I explode. Today alone I've answered a dozen e-mails or comments from folks suffering with atrial fibrillation around the same theme—their clueless doctors! Now don't get me wrong, there are so many good doctors out there. And the doctors to those folks who e-mailed me are probably very …
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Post-menopausal women with existing heart disease have less risk of having or developing atrial fibrillation if they are taking statin drugs. This finding was reported at the Heart Rhythm Society's annual meeting in San Francisco. It appears that it's the anti-inflammatory properties of statins that cause this. More about study... While the news stories say "older women benefit from …
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My friend, Dr. Ellen Taliaferro, used to be an emergency room doctor. Today she uses her expertise in dealing with trauma to help people use writing to recover from their illnesses and traumas. I sent her a message the other day saying that maybe wellness writing can not only cure chronic diseases but perhaps even …
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