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 affect an athlete’s physical performance and inhibit eligibility at pre-qualification screenings,” said Dr. Cappato. “Catheter ablation offers an unprecedented opportunity for these athletes to come back to their sport, especially when healthy [pre-participation screening] certificates are required to compete in countries such as mine.”

During the same session, Dr. Stanley Nattel (Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada) presented a small animal study with rats that suggested that strenuous exercise may have contributed to their development of atrial fibrillation.

To learn more, read: Catheter Ablation May be Better Atrial Fibrillation Treatment than Drugs for Serious and Professional Athletes

Tags: Catheter ablation, Causes or Triggers, Events, Exercise, Prevention, Risk, Treatment by Mellanie
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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 Risk of Left Atrial Enlargement, a Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers, High blood pressure, Prevention, Stroke, Study by Mellanie
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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 much as 16 years before the onset of atrial fibrillation. Tests for NT-proBNP are available today, but are mainly used for screening for heart failure and heart disease.

To learn more, read: Study Finds Major Predictor for Development of New Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Stroke, Study by Mellanie
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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 to the risk during normal sleep breathing.

Read: Sleep Apnea Multiplies Risk of Arrhythmias Like Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Prevention, Sleep Apnea, Study, Treatment by Mellanie
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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 fibrillation treatments.

Read more:  New Research Finds Cells that Trigger Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers by Mellanie
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Sleep apnea is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation. It is also associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, and insulin resistance, all of which are risk factors for, or results of, atrial fibrillation.

Now a new study has just reported that men between the ages of 40 and 70 who have severe sleep apnea have twice the risk of death as men without sleep apnea. Though women are probably also at increased risk, the study did not have enough women with sleep apnea to draw conclusions regarding an association between sleep apnea and death.

Sleep apnea is believed to impact about one in four men and one in ten women, and most are not aware that they have the problem. The article below contains very important information for both men and women with afib.

Read: Severe Sleep Apnea Doubles Risk of Death in Men — Implications for Those with Atrial Fibrillation

Tags: Causes or Triggers, High blood pressure, Prevention, Sleep Apnea, Symptoms, Treatment by Mellanie
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We continue to learn more about the family connection in atrial fibrillation. A second gene was just found that increases the risk of afib and stroke.

At least one third of those of European descent carry one copy of the newly-discovered variant in the ZFHX3 gene and have a 20% increase in risk of afib and cardioembolic strokes, those that originate from clots from the heart.

These findings will be integrated into DNA testing for atrial fibrillation and stroke risk from deCODE Genetics.

Learn more: Second Gene Identified That Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Family, Prevention, Risk, Study by Mellanie
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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 failure and is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation

It’s possible that treating sleep apnea could improve the arrhythmia, but there’s currently no proof of that. The study was done on men, but likely applies to women, too.

To learn more, read: Sleep Apnea Severity Increases the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Tags: Causes or Triggers, Prevention, Risk, Symptoms by Mellanie
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In news from Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium 2009, Mellanie True Hills heard some startling new information about atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea. She interviewed ablation pioneer Dr. Warren (Sonny) Jackman on video about those findings.

Read: Noted Electrophysiologist and Ablation Pioneer Discusses New Findings About Afib and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Tags: Catheter ablation, Causes or Triggers, Surgery, Treatment by Mellanie
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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 by Mellanie
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