A new study just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that increasing severity of sleep apnea is associated with a progressively increasing risk of atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias. The type of sleep apnea matters: Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of ventricular events Central sleep apnea is common in heart …
Read MoreCategory Archives: Prevention
Recently we reported on the results of the Watchman device trial as an alternative to Coumadin or warfarin in the prevention of strokes among those with atrial fibrillation. We mentioned that it would be reviewed by the FDA Advisory Committee on April 23, 2009. In advance of the review meeting on Thursday, the FDA has …
Read MoreThere is a lot of news coming out of the American College of Cardiology annual meetings going on currently in Orlando. One such story, about the Watchman device trial, is particularly important to those with afib who are concerned about blood clots and stroke. Read more at: Watchman Device as Alternative to Warfarin or Coumadin
Read MoreThis is my crazy-busy time of year, with many back-to-back trips for speeches. I speak at Go Red for Women and women's heart health events around the country, especially during Heart Month (February). I go for a couple of days, come home for 12-24 hours, and then leave again. No matter how crazy it is …
Read MoreMellanie True Hills, CEO of StopAfib.org, will keynote Indiana Heart Hospital's A Moment for Me Luncheon in Indianapolis, IN on Saturday, January 31, 2009. She will be speaking on Heart Choices: A Woman's Guide to Saving Her Own Life. For more information... Read: StopAfib.org CEO Mellanie True Hills Keynotes Indianapolis Women & Heart Disease Event …
Read MoreThe controversy among those with atrial fibrillation continues on whether or not you should be on Coumadin or warfarin. How do you know your risk of stroke and whether or not you should be taking Coumadin? Learn about your CHADS2 score from an electrophysiologist in this video... See the video at: Do You Need Coumadin: …
Read MoreBecause the holidays are full of potential atrial fibrillation triggers—food, hot and cold beverages, alcohol, stress, cold weather, and many more triggers—here's wishing you the willpower to resist your triggers. And if you can't resist, here's wishing that your body holds the afib beast at bay. Here are a couple of recent articles that may …
Read MoreDo you ever wonder if your atrial fibrillation is linked to your parents or even your grandparents? It's worth thinking about the role of genetics in your afib. We recently talked about how atrial fibrillation may run in families. A new study has shown that yet another gene is involved in atrial fibrillation that runs …
Read MoreDo you go through medical procedures without paying attention to the risks involved from continued radiation exposure? It's worth paying close attention to the amount of radiation you receive from CT scans (computed tomography) and from radiation exposure during atrial fibrillation procedures such as catheter ablation. Every time you are exposed to radiation, it increases …
Read MoreWith the holidays getting started, you may wonder how drinking alcohol impacts the risk of atrial fibrillation. Alcohol is considered a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but is any alcohol safe, and how much is too much? A new study sheds some light on that for women, but those findings may still be too much. …
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