If you’re on Coumadin or warfarin for your atrial fibrillation, you’re probably interested in the coming replacements for it. In part 2 of our Coumadin series, Dr. Manish Shah, Electrophysiologist at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, talks about the clotting cascade and two drugs that are potential replacements for Coumadin.

See the video at: Dr. Shah on Coumadin Replacements in Trial - Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban

Tags: Anticoagulation, Audio/Video, Treatment // Add Comment »

The 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: Your CHADS2 Score

Tags: Audio/Video, Prevention // Add Comment »

Anyone who has, or has had, atrial fibrillation may enjoy this holiday season poem: 

Read: T’was the day of ablation - by Earl Kehr

Tags: Catheter ablation // Add Comment »

Because 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 be helpful for the holidays…

• If you’re traveling, before you leave check out: Airports with the Healthiest Food Options
• Here’s a reminder of how much alcohol is OK, and how much is too much (there’s info in the article for men and women): Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Happy Holidays from all of us at StopAfib.org!

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Prevention, Risk // Add Comment »

Watch a radiofrequency catheter ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation in a live webcast on December 18, 2008.

For more information visit: http://www.stopafib.org/newsitem.cfm/NEWSID/131

Tags: Catheter ablation, Cure, Treatment // Add Comment »

Do 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 in families.

Learn more: New Genetic Cause of Atrial Fibrillation Found

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Family, Prevention // 1 Comment »

Do 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 your chance of developing cancer. Your doctor should consider this before you undergo your next procedure. If necessary, remind him or her.

Learn more: Cancer Risks from Heart and Atrial Fibrillation Procedures

Tags: Catheter ablation, Prevention // Add Comment »

With 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. And other research indicating what is OK for men may put them at risk, too.

Learn more: Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Prevention // 2 Comments »

Healthy diet is so important to those with afib and to anyone who has, or wants to ward off, heart disease and other health issues. So, here is some really useful information for your holiday travel. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine just ranked 15 busy airports based on whether they have healthy food.

Read: Airports with the Healthiest Food Options

Tags: Prevention, Resources // Add Comment »

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the U.S., which is a time to reflect and give thanks. No matter what has happened in our lives, we have much for which to be thankful.

I have much for which I am thankful as well, including getting a second chance and a third chance at life. Both caused me to take up new missions — first, helping women know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women as well as men, and second, via StopAfib.org, helping those with atrial fibrillation in hopes of wiping out afib-related strokes.

As part of my journey spreading the word, I recently had the opportunity to walk in Oprah’s footsteps and as a result made new commitments to these two missions. Thanksgiving seemed an appropriate time to share that via an open note to Oprah in thanks for her inspiration.

Read: Thank you, Oprah: An Open Thank You Note from Mellanie True Hills of StopAfib.org

We at StopAfib.org wish you time for reflecting on that for which you give thanks.

Tags: Advocacy, General, Mellanie True Hills, Prevention // 1 Comment »