February 5, 2012

Can Avoiding Dehydration Prevent Atrial Fibrillation “Holiday Heart Syndrome”?

Avoid dehydration

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, [...]

Dr. Keith Ferdinand on Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Among Blacks and African Americans — Video

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 [...]

Surgeon Explains Why Hybrid Ablation “Makes Sense” for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

Hybrid ablation is an emerging treatment for patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. It is a dual approach, in which an electrophysiologist ablates from inside the heart and the cardiac surgeon ablates on the outside the heart. Dr. James Edgerton, a cardiac surgeon at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano in Texas, who spoke [...]

Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation Linked to Age, Gender, and Afib Type

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 [...]

Full-Body Scans, Federally-Mandated Groping, and Atrial Fibrillation, Oh My!

airport-security-scan-violated

By Mellanie True Hills I just got home from a one-week multi-city trip and have so much catching up to do. But with the furor over the new airport security screening procedures that have just gone into effect in the US, I have some thoughts that I simply must share before my head explodes. This [...]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Atrial Fibrillation Connection

Here’s a good article on the connection between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and atrial fibrillation. If you have COPD, here’s where you can Get Started Learning About Atrial Fibrillation.

Watch This Video to Take a Stand Against Atrial Fibrillation (AF or Afib) and Stroke, Then Pass It On

Today is a very special day – it’s the start of the fourth annual National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. In celebration, StopAfib.org is kicking off a new initiative asking YOU to Take a Stand against Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke. We are launching the new Take a Stand video that shares important statistics about the impact [...]

Learn About Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) with a New Guide

Get Started Guide from StopAfib.org

Whether you’re an atrial fibrillation patient or caregiver, or are just interested in learning more about afib, check out the new Get Started Learning About Atrial Fibrillation Guide at StopAfib.org. You’ll find a wealth of information, including: what afib is and the problems it causes, including stroke and congestive heart failure information about an afib [...]

Where in the U.S. are you most at risk for atrial fibrillation hospitalization or strokes?

One of the most interesting things about atrial fibrillation is how geography—the location where you grew up, where you live now, and even where you visit—can affect your risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. A fascinating map from the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) dramatically illustrates which parts of the country had [...]

Study Shows Women with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Have Catheter Ablations Later Than Men, And Have Worse Results

New research from Dr. Andrea Natale and colleagues on gender disparities in atrial fibrillation points out that women with afib are less likely to have catheter ablation treatment than men. When they do have atrial fibrillation catheter ablations, they tend to be older and sicker, meaning that they are more likely to have persistent or [...]