We just put up a blog post over at MyAFibExperience.org, a site co-developed by American Heart Association and StopAfib.org. The post shares some of the information on blood thinners and prevention of afib-related strokes that we gleaned from the recent 2016 Atrial Fibrillation Symposium in Orlando. We hope these nuggets are good food for thought …
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The Managing AF Risk Factors Panel at the 2015 Get in Rhythm, Stay in Rhythm National Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference included David J. Wilber, MD, FHRS speaking about the impact of Obesity, Diabetes, and Hypertension on Atrial Fibrillation; Susan Redline, MD, MPH speaking about Sleep Apnea as a Hidden Trigger for AF; and Mark S. …
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As reported at the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam, among patients with 0-2 stroke risk factors, those with atrial fibrillation had a three-fold risk of stroke over those who didn’t have afib. But that difference declined as the number of risk factors increased. The risk of stroke was high in those with 3 or …
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In the late breaking clinical trials session at Heart Rhythm 2013, Dr. Nassir Marrouche presented results of the multicenter DECAAF trial. Dr. Marrouche talked with us on video about the results presented at HRS, including the role of hypertension (high blood pressure) in the development of atrial fibrosis and the evaluation by MRI of atrial …
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Some fascinating new research just reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has shown that atrial fibrillation treatment success more than doubles when patients with medication-resistant high blood pressure [hypertension] and atrial fibrillation have a pulmonary vein isolation catheter ablation augmented by a kidney-related procedure called “renal artery denervation.” To learn more …
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Although the total number of stroke deaths declined by more than 50 percent between 1978 and 2006, racial disparities in stroke deaths have remained and efforts to eliminate health disparities have been unsuccessful. Between ages 45 and 65, blacks are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from stroke than whites, but we haven’t …
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Featured at Grand Rounds: Health Tips at USATODAY.com The holidays seem to bring on lots of atrial fibrillation, often attributed to a condition called "Holiday Heart Syndrome", which is supposedly caused by consuming too much alcohol and caffeine during the holidays. This year, can we avoid afib caused by Holiday Heart Syndrome? I think so, …
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In this video, Dr. Keith Ferdinand, Chief Science Officer of the Association of Black Cardiologists, talked about heart disease and atrial fibrillation among minorities, especially blacks and African Americans. He talked about why blacks appear to have less afib than whites, and what blacks should be doing to prevent AF and heart disease. Watch the …
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Up to 30% of patients could have very late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation, according to research highlighted at the recent Boston AF Symposium. Very late recurrence, which is when atrial fibrillation resumes more than one year after ablation, may be the result of age, gender, type of afib, and existence of other …
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A newly published study shows obesity is a major risk factor for left atrial enlargement (LAE), a condition in which the left upper chamber of the heart is oversized. That's important to people who are concerned about atrial fibrillation (AF) because LAE is a risk factor for afib, stroke and death. Read more: Obesity Raises …
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