Heart Rhythm

Hearts should have normal rhythm to their beats, but when these beats are out of synch, it causes inefficient pumping of blood. Irregular heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats do not work properly. This can cause beats that are too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). Tachycardias include atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bradycardias include sick sinus syndrome and conduction block. Electrophysiology arrhythmia treatments include medications, life style changes, and the EP lab interventions of catheter ablation, and implantable pacemakers or defibrillators.

Competitive sports appear safe for young athletes with ICDs

There were no serious adverse events related to competition in a study of 129 young athletes with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), providing reassurance that moderate-to-intense physical activity in this population may be safer than previously thought.

November 20, 2018

Study: Depressed patients see up to 7-fold higher risk for AFib

Individuals with clinical depression could face a more than seven-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in the earliest stages of their diagnosis, a population study out of Denmark suggests.

November 20, 2018

Severe migraines could signal elevated risk for AFib, stroke

A decades-long study of patients who have migraines with visual aura has linked the painful headaches to an increased risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation and, to a lesser degree, stroke, researchers report in the online edition of Neurology.

November 15, 2018

Study shows discord between AFib patients, physicians in anticoagulant prescribing

When approached again, about a quarter of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not taking anticoagulants due to physician-cited “patient refusal” said they would consider taking the drugs, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

November 12, 2018

DOACs cut dementia risk in AFib patients more than warfarin

For patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib), taking a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) instead of warfarin may cut the risk of dementia by 15 to 20 percent, according to a large database study published Nov. 2 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

November 8, 2018

Cardiology societies produce new bradycardia guideline

The American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Heart Rhythm Society on Nov. 6 released a new guideline for the evaluation and treatment of patients with bradycardia and cardiac conduction disorders.

November 6, 2018
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new warning against the use of watches, rings and other devices that claim to measure blood glucose levels without piercing the skin. These unapproved devices come from “dozens of companies” and are sold “under multiple brand names.”

What the Apple Heart Study looks like 1 year later

A Stanford- and Apple-led atrial fibrillation study of more than 400,000 U.S. residents—the largest AFib screening effort to date—has entered its final phase of data collection, the company announced Nov. 1. The trial is expected to wrap up early next year.

November 1, 2018

Patricia Blake named new CEO of Heart Rhythm Society

Patricia V. Blake will take over as CEO of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) next March, HRS leadership announced Oct. 26.

October 26, 2018

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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