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 [...]
Watch This Video to Take a Stand Against Atrial Fibrillation (AF or Afib) and Stroke, Then Pass It On
September 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Learn About Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) with a New Guide
August 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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?
May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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
March 21, 2010 By 3 Comments
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 [...]
Psoriasis is Newly-Recognized Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke
March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A new study just presented at the American College of Cardiology scientific sessions found psoriasis to be a significant and independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and a stroke risk factor, too. Mild psoriasis increases afib risk by 22% while moderate-to-severe psoriasis raises afib risk by 51%. This chronic inflammatory condition also raises other [...]
Is Catheter Ablation a Better Treatment Than Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation in Serious and Professional Athletes?
February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
At the recent Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium, catheter ablation was presented as possibly a better atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment option for serious and professional athletes than antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs). According to Dr. Riccardo Cappato (Institute Policlinics San Donato, Milan, Italy), antiarrhythmic drug therapy has not been popular with this patient population.”Even when effective, AADs significantly [...]
Obesity Raises Risk of Left Atrial Enlargement and Atrial Fibrillation
December 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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 [...]
New Study Finds NT-proBNP Levels Predict New Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Up To Sixteen Years in Advance
November 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A new study reports that blood levels of a protein hormone called N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts new atrial fibrillation, regardless of other afib risk factors. Those with the highest levels were four times as likely to develop afib as those with the lowest levels. In the study, elevated levels of NT-proBNP occurred as [...]
Sleep Apnea Multiplies Risk of Arrhythmias Like Atrial Fibrillation — Odds Are 18 Times Higher
November 2, 2009 By 3 Comments
Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that disrupts breathing during sleep, is believed to be linked to atrial fibrillation (AF) but until now, we didn’t know if apnea could actually trigger arrhythmias like afib. Now a new study shows the odds of having an abnormal heartbeat are 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode, compared [...]
Atrial Fibrillation Trigger Found That Could Lead to Effective Afib Treatments
October 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A newly published study reports on a type of cell found in the upper chamber (atrium) of the heart and in the pulmonary veins that triggers atrial fibrillation. Like the skin cells that make pigment, the afib-trigger cells produce an enzyme called DCT. Researchers hope this discovery will lead to new research and effective atrial [...]
