Although the total number of stroke deaths declined by more than 50 percent between 1978 and 2006, racial disparities in stroke deaths have remained and efforts to eliminate health disparities have been unsuccessful. Between ages 45 and 65, blacks are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from stroke than whites, but we haven’t [...]
Is It Time to Re-think Typical Atrial Fibrillation Treatment?
The wildly beating heart, fatigue and other debilitating symptoms are well known to the many millions of people impacted by atrial fibrillation. Some of those who have afib may have no outward symptoms, but are still at risk of serious and long-term damage to the heart.
Symptoms or not, rate control is the common treatment of choice, especially from those healthcare providers who are not well versed in afib treatment options. But this treatment sort of suspends afib patients in a “waiting and watching” middle ground, stuck in limbo with a diminished quality of life and an increased risk of stroke.
Stuck in the Middle: Afib Patients on Rate Control, from EP Lab Digest January, 2012
Our January EP Lab Digest Patient Perspective column, Stuck in the Middle: Afib Patients on Rate Control, focuses on how rate control treatment (such as beta blockers) alone impacts the quality of life of those living with atrial fibrillation. The column also explores things doctors and patients may wish to consider in determining an appropriate [...]
What Atrial Fibrillation Patients Want Doctors to Know: Bridging the Afib Communications Gap
Mellanie True Hills, founder of StopAfib.org, recently spoke at the Fourth Annual Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium. Many of her remarks to this medical conference are summarized in an article just published in EP Lab Digest. You may wish to share it with family and friends who need to understand what it’s like to live with [...]
Cryo Catheter Ablation Is Now Available for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Patients in the US
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Medtronic Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter system for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This is the first cryo (freezing) catheter ablation system to receive approval in the US. Approval was based on the results of the STOP AF (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) [...]
New European Afib Guidelines Lead the Way, Incorporating Newest Atrial Fibrillation Treatments
New medical guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) incorporating the latest afib research put Europe ahead of the U.S. when it comes to standardized treatment of atrial fibrillation. Stroke prevention and symptom relief are at the heart of the new ESC guidelines, which also make it clear that the risk of stroke for [...]
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 [...]
Atrial Fibrillation Ablations Fail From Sleep Apnea
Atrial fibrillation is very common in those with obstructive sleep apnea, and up to half of those who have afib also have sleep apnea. However, few studies have looked at the impact of sleep apnea on the success of catheter ablation and whether sleep apnea treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine makes [...]
