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.

Another pro athlete, football player Tommy Sweeney, diagnosed with COVID-related myocarditis

A cardiologist detected Sweeney’s condition during a mandatory checkup.

November 25, 2020

Aortic stenosis patients with AFib may experience more complications after valve replacement

The analysis, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, included data from more than 741,000 adult patients with aortic stenosis. 

November 24, 2020

Ablation outperforms drug therapy as an initial treatment for atrial fibrillation

Drug therapy is typically recommended for the initial treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation, but new research suggests there could be a more effective way. 

November 19, 2020
Fish oil pills are prescribed to patients to help reduce cardiovascular risks from atherosclerosis.

Fish oil and vitamin D supplements don’t prevent atrial fibrillation

Both supplements are still perfectly safe for patients to take for other reasons, researchers emphasized. 

November 13, 2020
Female patient with mask

COVID-19 patients with abnormal heart rhythms face a greater risk of death

"Patients and physicians need to monitor for these arrhythmias closely and treatments needs to be timely," one researcher warned. 

November 11, 2020
Elderly

Long-term anticoagulation a safe treatment option for elderly AFib patients

Long-term anticoagulation can be recommended for AFib patients 90 years old and older, according to new research. 

November 11, 2020
COVID

Newest hydroxychloroquine data ‘do not support’ use as COVID-19 treatment

This latest analysis compared the outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and those who received a placebo. 

November 9, 2020

Cardiac resynchronization therapy benefits patients with severe LV dysfunction

No procedure-related deaths were reported, and an absolute LVEF improvement of more than 5% was present in nearly 49% of patients. 

November 5, 2020

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."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup