May 23, 2012

Is It Time to Re-think Typical Atrial Fibrillation Treatment?

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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.

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StopAfib.org Applauds US Senate Passage of the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Resolution (S. Res. 243)

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StopAfib.org would like to applaud and thank Sen. Michael Crapo [R-ID], Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA], Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Sen. Daniel Akaka [D-HI], Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL], and Sen. Patrick Toomey [R-PA] for introducing and passing the Atrial Fibrillation Resolution (S. Res. 243), which promotes increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation. To learn [...]

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BREAKING NEWS: US Senate Passes Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Resolution

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We have just gotten word that the US Senate has passed the Atrial Fibrillation Resolution (S. Res. 243) by unanimous consent. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Crapo and co-introducers Sen. Casey, Sen. Inouye, Sen. Akaka, Sen. Rubio, and Sen. Toomey, promotes increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation. More information as it is available.

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US House of Representatives introduces Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Resolution (H. Res. 295)

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House Resolution 295 has just been introduced by StopAfib.org’s home district representative, Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX). We would like to thank Representative Granger for her support of the atrial fibrillation community. The AF Resolution encourages promotion of afib awareness, diagnosis, and treatment. To move the resolution out of committee and to the House floor for [...]

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Is Catheter Ablation a Better Treatment Than Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation in Serious and Professional Athletes?

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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 [...]

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Prof. John Camm discusses dronedarone (Multaq) and vernakalant, new antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation – Video

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At Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium 2010, Prof. John Camm talked about the two newest antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation treatment, dronedarone (Multaq®) and vernakalant. These antiarrhythmic (rhythm control) drugs help to put patients back into normal sinus rhythm, or to keep them in it. See the video: Interview with Professor John Camm at Boston Atrial [...]

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You Can Fight Medicare or Insurance Denials and Get the Atrial Fibrillation Treatments or Medicines You Need

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If you have a problem getting Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or your health insurance plan to cover an atrial fibrillation treatment, such as an afib medication, catheter ablation, or mini maze surgery, you don’t have to take “no” for an answer. You can push back by requesting a “coverage determination” or submitting an appeal. To learn [...]

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Rate Control or Rhythm Control — Which Is Better For Atrial Fibrillation: New Findings From the RECORD AF Registry

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RECORD AF registry findings were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. This registry looked at how newly-diagnosed afib patients were being managed in the real world. These results differed from previously-reported research, such as the AFFIRM (Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management) trial. In the real world, more cardiologists chose rhythm drugs [...]

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Atrial Fibrillation Trigger Found That Could Lead to Effective Afib Treatments

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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 [...]

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Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Is a Top Federal Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Priority

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Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the US federal government has allocated $1.1 billion for research into the comparative effectiveness of different medical treatments. New reports just out prioritize atrial fibrillation treatment on this comparative effectiveness research agenda. Comparative effectiveness research has the potential to improve atrial fibrillation patient treatment and save [...]

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