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 age, gender (men tend to have more atrial fibrillation than women), high blood pressure, valvular heart disease, and heart failure. She also mentions lesser-known risks, such as longer PR-interval (a measurement seen on an EKG), C-reactive protein, and BNP.

Dr. Benjamin also talks about the contribution of family history to common everyday atrial fibrillation, and notes that it can result in a doubling of the risk, and in the case of lone atrial fibrillation (younger patients with no underlying heart disease), a tripling of the risk.

Watch the video and read the transcript at:

Interview with Dr. Emelia Benjamin on Framingham Risk Prediction Tool for Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Audio/Video, General, Genetics, Risk, Study by Mellanie
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World Heart Rhythm Week Poster

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 part of this campaign.

As part of World Heart Rhythm Week, the Know Your Pulse campaign is being kicked off globally to make people aware of the importance of checking their pulse to identify potential afib and other arrhythmias. To learn more about World Heart Rhythm Week, and see the “Know Your Pulse” video with Sir Roger Moore, see:

StopAfib.org Announces Participation in World Heart Rhythm Week 2010 and Global “Know Your Pulse” Campaign – 6/7/10

Download World Heart Rhythm Week 2010 Poster

Tags: Advocacy, Audio/Video, Events, Prevention, Symptoms by Mellanie
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In this video interview, Dr. Nassir Marrouche, Executive Director of the Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research and Management (CARMA) Center at the University of Utah Health System, discusses the findings he recently presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting in Denver. He discussed the intriguing way they are using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), to personalize atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment by determining the degree of atrial fibrosis in the atrium to determine whether catheter ablation is likely to work. Since the extent of atrial fibrosis also correlates with stroke risk, this “staging” approach also can dictate whether anticoagulation is needed following the procedure.

The effectiveness of this Utah AF staging system will be tested through a multicenter clinical trial involving Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola, CHU Bordeaux, and a number of other centers around the world.

Watch the video:

Interview with Dr. Nassir Marrouche on Personalized Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Through “Staging”

Tags: Anticoagulation, Audio/Video, Catheter ablation, Medication, Risk, Stroke, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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In preparation for the upcoming free community Atrial Fibrillation Seminar in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 19, renowned electrophysiologist Dr. Nassir Marrouche, the executive director of the University of Utah’s Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research & Management (CARMA) center, and Mellanie True Hills, founder of StopAfib.org, talked with NPR about heart disease and atrial fibrillation.

Find out more about the event, and listen to the NPR interview at:
Salt Lake City, UT Atrial Fibrillation Seminar

Tags: Audio/Video, Catheter ablation, Events, Mellanie True Hills, Treatment, Women by Mellanie
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In this video interview at Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium, Dr. Peter Kowey, President of the Main Line Health Heart Center, talked about a number of exciting new things in the atrial fibrillation world. His topics included the Cabana clinical trials, the Safari catheter ablation registry, dronedarone as a replacement for amiodarone, atrial selective drugs, and coming replacements for Coumadin (warfarin).
Watch the video:

Interview with Dr. Peter Kowey at Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium

Tags: Anticoagulation, Audio/Video, Catheter ablation, Medication, Treatment by Mellanie
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The “AFib Educator” iPhone App and desktop and laptop widget was launched this morning by the AF Stat coalition. The purpose behind the tool is to help doctors communicate with atrial fibrillation patients, but patients can download it, too.

Find out more and download it at:  AFib Educator Smartphone App and Desktop Widget Offers Patient Dialogue Tool for a Complex Cardiovascular Disease

Please come back and tell us what you think of it in the comments below. Would this facilitate communication between you and your doctor about afib? Why or why not? What enhancements would you suggest? Thanks.

Tags: AF Stat, Advocacy, Audio/Video, Resources, Treatment by Mellanie
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On September 16, 2009, the AF Stat^TM coalition launched two major reports, the AF Stat Call to Action for Atrial Fibrillation and the Avalere Health report Medicare and Atrial Fibrillation: Consequences in Costs and Care. The videos from that webcast are now available for viewing online.

Learn more about AF Stat and access the webcast:
AF Stat^TM Webcast Video Presents Priorities to Improve Atrial Fibrillation Patient Care

Tags: AF Stat, Advocacy, Audio/Video, Events, General, Resources, Study by Mellanie
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has introduced a video to help those on anticoagulant drugs, such as Coumadin or warfarin, to use them safely. The video is designed to complement what patients learn from their doctors, pharmacies, or Coumadin clinics.

Anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke in those with atrial fibrillation by avoiding the formation of blood clots, but they can also be difficult to use and are a major source of hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The video, Staying Active and Healthy with Blood Thinners, aims to make them easier to manage by introducing four steps for patients to follow. The video, which is available in both English and Spanish, is also accompanied by a booklet.

Find out more:  Video Helps Those with Atrial Fibrillation to Safely Manage Anticoagulant Medications Coumadin and Warfarin

Tags: Anticoagulation, Audio/Video, Medication by Mellanie
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In Part 2 of StopAfib.org’s video interview with Dr. Michael Argenziano, of NY-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, he discusses a trial that they are participating in that involves implanting a heart rhythm monitor after an atrial fibrillation procedure to see what a patient’s rhythm looks like five, ten, and even twenty years later.

Video Interview with Dr. Michael Argenziano About Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

By the way, Dr. Argenziano is a colleague of Dr. Oz (Oprah and YOU books).

Tags: Audio/Video, Surgery, Treatment by Mellanie
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In Part 1 of StopAfib.org’s video interview with Dr. Michael Argenziano, he discusses the atrial fibrillation surgery done at NY-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

He covers the kind of surgery that he prefers for those with recent-onset paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as well as for those with one or more failed catheter ablations, for whom he favors a bi-atrial modified maze with lesions in the left and right atria.

He also talks about considerations for those with poor ventricular function or an enlarged left atrium, as well as a ganglionectomy for those whose atrial fibrillation arises in the abnormal nerve connections on the surface of the heart.

An interesting bit of trivia about Dr. Argenziano is that you may recognize the names of some of his heart surgeon colleagues, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, of Oprah fame and the YOU book series, and Dr. Craig Smith, who is well-known for doing Bill Clinton’s open-heart surgery. This team of heart surgeons was profiled in the fascinating book, The Surgeons.

Video Interview with Dr. Michael Argenziano About Atrial Fibrillation Surgery

Tags: Audio/Video, Catheter ablation, Surgery, Treatment by Mellanie
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