Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute physicians present findings at ACC scientific meeting Mar 19, 2010
LOS ANGELES Physician scientists from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute presented new findings on the effectiveness of routine aspirin therapy for preventing heart disease, a drug therapy for atrial fibrillation and the role left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) may play in weight reduction for obese patients with chronic end-stage heart failure who are considered for heart transplantation ... Dronedarone: New Atrial Fibrillation Drug Not Recommended as a "First Choice" ... Recently approved... (EurekAlert!)
Dabigatran versus Warfarin for Venous Thromboembolism Mar 18, 2010
For example, in an open-label study involving patients with atrial fibrillation in which dabigatran was shown. . (New England Journal of Medicine)
Brain Plaques May Explain Higher Risk of Alzheimer's Based on Mom's History Mar 18, 2010
(May 17, 2009) Researchers believe that they have made a breakthrough connection between atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, and Alzheimer's disease, the leading form of dementia among Americans. (Mar. (Science Daily)
Gene Test Pinpoints Heart Drug Dosage Mar 18, 2010
It also is used to prevent blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and other complications following atrial fibrillation or heart valve replacement surgery. About two million people begin warfarin therapy every year in the United States. (Newsmax)
DNA Test May Cut Hospitalizations Caused by Blood Thinner Mar 18, 2010
The test identifies variations in two genes that strongly influence sensitivity to warfarin (Coumadin), which is used to prevent blood clots in people with high-risk conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, or after surgery to replace a heart valve. "Genetic testing is a tool clinicians can use to more accurately predict the best warfarin dose early on," Dr. Robert S. Epstein, chief medical officer and president of the Medco Research Institute in Franklin Lakes, N.J., said in a news release from... (MEDLINEplus)
Non-Surgical Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation Beats Drugs Mar 17, 2010
A year after the non-surgical procedure, nearly 70 percent of patients treated by the system no longer suffered from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ... Untreated atrial fibrillation patients have between two and seven times higher risk of stroke ... Atrial fibrillation, which affects over seven million people worldwide, is responsible for inefficient pumping of the heart and can provide other heart rhythm problems, heart failure, and chronic fatigue. (Newsmax)
Freezing, Medicating Away a Dangerous Irregular Heart Rhythm Mar 17, 2010
New studies suggest promising new ways to ease atrial fibrillation ... MONDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- New data presented at a major cardiology meeting Monday brought mostly good news on atrial fibrillation, the potentially dangerous abnormal heartbeat that afflicts more than 2 million Americans ... In atrial fibrillation, the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart can quiver or race irregularly, rather than beating steadily. (MEDLINEplus)
Psoriasis Tied to Raised Heart Risk Mar 16, 2010
Rates for the potentially dangerous irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation also rose by 51 percent in those with moderate or severe psoriasis and by 22 percent for those with mild disease ... People who were younger than 50 years of age at the beginning of the study and had moderate to severe psoriasis had considerably higher odds -- about double -- for both atrial fibrillation and angioplasty, compared to people without the condition, the researchers added. (MEDLINEplus)
Warfarin Users Appear More Likely to Develop Brain Bleeding Following Stroke Treatment Mar 12, 2010
"Baseline warfarin use remained strongly associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after adjusting for relevant co-variates, including age, atrial fibrillation, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and international normalized ratio." ... 19, 2005) Women with atrial fibrillation who are not on anticoagulant therapy have a higher rate of ischemic stroke and face a higher absolute risk for stroke than do men with the condition, according to a. (Science Daily)
Bleeding Alert Sounded for Stroke Drugs Mar 10, 2010
A large number of Americans, most of them elderly, take Coumadin for a variety of reasons, including to prevent problems caused by atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, and to prevent clots from forming on artificial heart valves. "This is an important study that talks about the risks we are well aware of when we use tPA for ischemic strokes," said Dr. Ralph Sacco, professor and chairman of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. (MEDLINEplus)
Coffee lowers risk of hospital trip for heartbeats Mar 6, 2010
Cardiac rhythm disorders are problems in the heart's electrical systems that cause it to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly, with atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular heartbeat, the most common. People who are moderate coffee drinkers can be reassured that they are not doing harm because of their coffee drinking,'' said Arthur Klatsky, the study's lead investigator and a cardiologist at Kaiser's division of research. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Shingles of the Eye Tied to Stroke Risk Mar 5, 2010
The study also lacked some key information on patients, Ortiz notes, such as whether they smoked or had atrial fibrillation, a heart-rhythm disturbance that can lead to stroke. Another question is whether antiviral treatment for shingles might make a difference in longer-term stroke risk. (MEDLINEplus)
Beta Blocker Therapy Underused in Heart Failure Patients, Study Finds Mar 5, 2010
(July 15, 2009) Patients with atrial fibrillation, common in those with advanced chronic heart failure, have an increased risk of hospitalization due to heart failure, according to new research. The findings also. (Science Daily)
Eating Fish Has No Effect on Abnormal Heart Rhythm Mar 4, 2010
Dr. Jarrett D. Berry of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and his colleagues found no relationship between how much non-fried fish postmenopausal women ate and their risk of developing atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm abnormality. About a quarter of people will develop atrial fibrillation in their lifetimes, Berry and his team note in the American Journal of Cardiology ... There is evidence that omega-3 fatty acids, in fish or as supplements, could... (MEDLINEplus)
Coffee Is Generally Heart-Friendly Mar 4, 2010
About 2 percent of them had hospital stays because of such abnormalities, the most common being atrial fibrillation. But the risk was 18 percent lower for those who reported drinking four or more cups of coffee a day, compared to those who didn't drink coffee, said Dr. Arthur Klatsky, a senior consultant in cardiology for the program, who led the study. (MEDLINEplus)
Coffee Associated With Reduced Risk of Hospitalization for Heart Rhythm Disturbances Mar 4, 2010
Previous data from a population study in Denmark compared heavy to light coffee drinkers with respect to risk of atrial fibrillation, the most common major rhythm disturbance, and found no statistically significant difference ... About 2 percent (3,317) were hospitalized for rhythm disturbances; 50 percent of those were for atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm problem ... It also was similar for various rhythm problems such as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter,... (Science Daily)
Coffee cuts chance of irregular heartbeat Mar 4, 2010
Atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular heart beat that is the most common of these conditions, will affect an estimated 2. 7 million Americans in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Boston Globe)
Current Blood Thinners Face Tough Competition Mar 2, 2010
The Pradaxa trial included 3,623 patients with atrial fibrillation and a previous stroke who were randomized to receive warfarin, a low dose of Pradaxa (110 milligrams) twice a day or a higher dose (150 mg) of Pradaxa twice a day for about two years ... "In patients who already had a transient ischemic attack or stroke and suffer from atrial fibrillation, dabigatran is as effective as warfarin," he added. (MEDLINEplus)
Race Gap in Treatment of Heart Condition Feb 27, 2010
Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed using an electrocardiogram (ECG) test given to participants in their homes. Before the visit, participants were asked by telephone if a physician or a health professional had ever told them that they had atrial fibrillation, and they were also asked what medications they were using ... In other words, blacks in this study with atrial fibrillation were two-thirds less likely to know they had the disorder and three-fourths less likely to be treated with warfarin,... (CBS News)
Cheney's 5 heart attacks unusual, shows good care Feb 25, 2010
He also has undergone electric shock to treat an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, also more common in heart attack-weakened hearts. Still, the heart attacks keep coming. (USA Today -- News)
Cheney leaves hospital after 'mild' heart attack Feb 25, 2010
It was the second time in less than a year that Cheney had experienced and been treated for an atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart. More from msnbc. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Patients Do Better at Hospitals That Follow Stroke Guidelines Feb 24, 2010
Giving patients with atrial fibrillation anticoagulation medications such as Coumadin (warfarin) at discharge. Providing cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins to help prevent additional strokes or heart attacks. (MEDLINEplus)
Cheney rushed to hospital Feb 23, 2010
He has undergone two artery-clearing angioplasties and been treated twice with electrical shocks for atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm that places him at risk of a stroke if not treated. In 2005, he underwent surgery for an arterial aneurysm on the back of each of his knees. (iAfrica.com)
Chest pains send ex-VP Cheney to hospital Feb 23, 2010
In October 2008, Cheney was hospitalized for treatment of an atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart ... 8 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat and one that is not life-threatening in itself ... The main risk from atrial fibrillation is not that Cheney will have another heart attack, but that he could eventually have a stroke if the rhythm problem is not treated. (MSNBC -- Politics)
When the heart gets out of step Feb 22, 2010
Newly identified gene may open route to innovative treatments for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia a chronic irregularity of heartbeat which affects an estimated 1 million people in Germany ... In the third of a series of genomewide asssociation studies, an international team of researchers, led by LMU physician PD Dr. Stefan Kb, now reports the identification of a new gene locus that has a significant influence on risk for atrial fibrillation. (EurekAlert!)
Common gene variant may increase risk for a type of cardiac arrhythmia Feb 22, 2010
Gene associated with atrial fibrillation in younger patients without known risk factors. An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation ... In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being published online, the investigators describe finding that variations affecting a protein that may help control the heart's electrical activity appear to increase the risk of what is called lone atrial... (EurekAlert!)
Hospital to offer community free stroke screenings (3) Feb 21, 2010
The free screening includes atrial fibrillation, lipid profile, carotid bruit and blood pressure test ... Thomas says medical risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart disease, carotid artery disease and atrial fibrillation. (Vincennes Sun Commercial, IN)
AtriCure misses outlook for 4Q Feb 19, 2010
David Drachman, president and CEO, said in a news release that AtriCure had progressed in obtaining Food and Drug Administration approvals for its atrial fibrillation products and expanded its market position during the year. In the fourth quarter, domestic revenues for open heart surgery devices grew 11. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
Stereotaxis Procedure Prominently Featured on BBC Documentary 'From the Heart' Feb 18, 2010
According to the documentary, fifteen percent of strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation, which affects over 6 million people world-wide and will increase approximately 2 ... The magnetic irrigated catheter is not approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in the US. The core components of the Stereotaxis system have received regulatory clearance in the U.S., Europe and Canada ... Free info for Atrial Fibrillation patients on reliable herbal options. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
In Tests, Implanted Monitor Detects Atrial Fibrillation Feb 18, 2010
TUESDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- An implantable heart monitor that uses a new computation method is highly accurate in detecting a common heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation, according to a new study ... About one in seven strokes occurs in people with atrial fibrillation, according to the American Heart Association ... The researchers found that the monitor correctly detected atrial fibrillation in 96. (MEDLINEplus)
Among M&A deals in 2009, pop's on top Feb 16, 2010
which has developed technology to treat atrial fibrillation, or an abnormal heart rhythm. There wasn t anything in particular about economic conditions in 2009 that made the year a good time to buy, said Alexandra Peters, Medtronic s principal lead counsel for mergers and acquisitions. (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
Can Chocolate Lower Your Risk of Stroke? Feb 12, 2010
To prevent strokes in at-risk patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, researchers have devised a mechanical. . (Science Daily)
Women More Likely to Fail Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation Feb 11, 2010
TUESDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- New research reveals that women are more likely than men to fail catheter ablation treatments for atrial fibrillation ... "Most atrial fibrillation studies have consisted predominately of male patients, and, accordingly, there is a real lack of information about the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation for females," study author Dr. Andrea Natale, executive medical director of the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center in Austin,... (MEDLINEplus)
10 Ways You Can Help Prevent Stroke Feb 9, 2010
Control other medical conditions -- If your parents have atrial fibrillation (an abnormal rhythm involving the upper two chambers of the heart), diabetes, heart valve disease or vascular disease, they have a much greater risk of stroke. These medical conditions require careful management. (KIRO TV, WA)
St. Jude Medical announces clinical trial Feb 4, 2010
said Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted it an Investigational Device Exemption to begin enrollment in a clinical trial for a new device used to treat atrial fibrillation. The trial known as the Irrigated Ablation System Evaluation for Atrial Fibrillation, or simply IRASE AF will be a multi-center evaluation of the efficacy of St. Jude Medical s Duo 12-port open irrigated catheter ablation system for the treatment of atrial fibrillation ... Atrial fibrillation is the most... (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
Memory Failing? You May Be at Higher Risk for Stroke Feb 3, 2010
You may be at higher risk for stroke. You May Be at Higher Risk for Stroke. (Science Daily)
Overweight in 20s Could Lead to Serious Problems in 40s Feb 3, 2010
2, 2010) People who are obese and have type 2 diabetes in their 20s will be at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke in their 40s if they do not change their lifestyle. ""If your blood pressure is 136/88 and you're a man with a waist over 40 or a woman with a waist over 35 it spells trouble," said Dr. Dale J. Hamilton, diabetes clinical services chief at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. "These are two of the five symptoms of metabolic syndrome, a problem that can lead to type 2... (Science Daily)
Health & Fitness Snapshots Feb 2, 2010
LOS ANGELES People with atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat, should be referred for a surgical treatment called catheter ablation if an oral medication is not effective, said the authors of a study released recently ... Atrial fibrillation, which affects more than 2 million Americans, occurs when the heart's two small upper chambers quiver instead of beating effectively. (Montana Standard, MT)
Heart Procedure Beats Drugs Jan 29, 2010
Burning sections of the heart works far better than drugs at treating patients with an irregular heartbeat condition called atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder that affects more than 2 million Americans, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. The findings suggest that the procedure called catheter ablation is especially effective in patients with an early form of atrial fibrillation ... Wilber studied patients with an early form of the disease called paroxysmal or intermittent atrial... (Newsmax)
Burning Heart Tissue With Catheter Works Dramatically Better Than Drug Treatments for Common Heart Rhythm Disorder Jan 28, 2010
One year after undergoing a treatment called catheter ablation, 66 percent of patients with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) were free of any recurrent irregular heartbeats or symptoms, compared with only 16 percent of those treated with drugs ... More than 2 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, and there are about 160,000 new cases each year ... The study was the largest to date to compare ablation to drug therapy for atrial fibrillation. (Science Daily)
Burning Heart Tissue Beats Atrial Fibrillation Jan 28, 2010
TUESDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- When drug therapy can't control the dangerous heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation, burning out the cardiac tissue responsible for the abnormality will do the job in most cases, a new study has found ... In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart have episodes in which they quiver rather than beat to circulate blood ... A variety of drugs are used to treat atrial fibrillation, but initial drug therapy will not satisfy about half the... (MEDLINEplus)
Electrophysiology procedure repairs heart without surgery Jan 21, 2010
In atrial fibrillation, multiple sites in the heart fire electrical impulses in uncoordinated fashion, causing the atria to beat quickly and ineffectively. With ventricular tachycardia , abnormal electrical pathways exist in the ventricles, usually because that part of the heart muscle has been damaged by a heart attack or disease. (Wichita Business Journal, KS)
RLTV's Healthline Presents a Special Report on Atrial Fibrillation Jan 21, 2010
BALTIMORE, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Retirement Living TV's (RLTV) award-winning series, Healthline will premiere a special report on Atrial Fibrillation. This half-hour episode explores the possible symptoms, risk factors and treatments to successfully live with this chronic illness. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Cardiologists Discover 'Pouch' in Heart That May Raise Stroke Risk Jan 21, 2010
(June 19, 2008) Doctors are offering an experimental therapy for atrial fibrillation using the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage System ... 2 million Americans who have atrial fibrillation, an irregularity in ... 19, 2005) Women with atrial fibrillation who are not on anticoagulant therapy have a higher rate of ischemic stroke and face a higher absolute risk for stroke than do men with the condition, according to a. (Science Daily)
Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Jan. 19, 2010, issue Jan 19, 2010
Atrial Fibrillation Risk Lower with Some Classes of Antihypertensives. Atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, is a major risk factor for thromboembolic events, particularly stroke ... Antihypertensive drugs are known to reduce the risk for atrial fibrillation by lowering blood pressure. (EurekAlert!)
Tarantula venom-based MD therapy to be advanced by UB scientists' biotech company Jan 12, 2010
The first target of the peptide is MD, a condition Sachs has been investigating for several years, but the peptide also has potential as a therapy for several other conditions, such as neuropathic pain and atrial fibrillation ... "In addition to its effectiveness in MD, it inhibits atrial fibrillation, a cardiac arrhythmia that affects 2 million Americans, and for which there currently is no reliable drug therapy. "In a second application, research groups in Korea and UC San Francisco have shown... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
St. Jude revenue exceeds analysts estimates Jan 12, 2010
Sales for the company s atrial fibrillation business were $171 million in the most recent quarter, up 9. 6 percent to $156 million in the same quarter a year earlier. (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
Transplant for Type 1 diabetes brings troubles, gifts Jan 11, 2010
They've diagnosed me with two post-transplant illnesses: cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and atrial fibrillation ... The nausea depletes me of electrolytes and minerals, which sends my body into the more dangerous complication: atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart pumps twice as fast as normal but circulates only 60% of the blood, raising the risk of a blood clot and stroke ... My good friend Jocelyn Smith is visiting when I feel my hands and feet go numb the surest signal I'm... (USA Today)
Sleep Apnea Episodes May Trigger Irregular Heartbeat Jan 10, 2010
Study found 18-fold higher incidence of atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias ... The researchers focused on two dangerous heartbeat abnormalities: atrial fibrillation, a disordered fluttering of the two upper chambers of the heart (a major risk factor for stroke); and ventricular tachycardia, a too-fast beating of the lower blood-pumping chambers that can cause sudden death. (MEDLINEplus)
Common Heart Rhythm Problem on the Rise in the U.S. Jan 10, 2010
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - About 3 million Americans suffer from the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, and that number is likely to double by 2035, new research shows. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the two upper chambers of the heart, the atria, stop contracting in a coordinated, steady fashion and instead begin to quiver ... People may experience brief bouts of atrial fibrillation, or it can be a permanent condition. (MEDLINEplus)
New Blood Thinner Could Replace Warfarin to Fight Venous Clots Jan 10, 2010
Those studies found that dabigatran appeared safe and effective in preventing blood clots when patients were treated for acute coronary syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that might indicate a heart attack; it was also found superior to warfarin in preventing strokes in patients with the irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation ... And another trial, also presented at the AHA meeting, demonstrated that dabigatran outperformed warfarin in preventing strokes in patients with atrial... (MEDLINEplus)
Heart Care in Rural Hospitals Matches Urban Ones Jan 10, 2010
Patients at rural hospitals tended to be older and had higher rates of heart failure -- a chronic condition in which the heart muscle is weakened -- and atrial fibrillation, a common type of heart-rhythm disturbance. Researchers led by Dr. Amrut V. Ambardekar, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, report the findings in the American Journal of Cardiology. (MEDLINEplus)
Nature Reviews Cardiology (formerly Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine) Jan 10, 2010
Amiodarone effectively maintains sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation, and although dronedarone is less effective it has a better safety profile. The choice of antiarrhythmic drug (or nonpharmacological strategy) depends on the ultimate goal of therapy, which should be considered in the context of the patient's clinical presentation and the treatment tailored to the individual. (Nature News Service)
Newer Blood Thinners May Outperform Old Standbys Jan 10, 2010
A previous trial had demonstrated that dabigatran outperformed warfarin in preventing strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. The current trial, to be presented Wednesday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. (MEDLINEplus)
Alternative to Warfarin May Cut Risk of Bleeding Jan 10, 2010
Dabigatran etexilate does well in trial of atrial fibrillation patients ... SUNDAY, Nov. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The anti-clotting drug dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) may be more effective and safer than warfarin at preventing clots and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, a new Swedish study has found ... Warfarin is effective in preventing blood clots that can cause stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) and other diseases, but the drug has a narrow... (MEDLINEplus)
Obesity Seems to Alter Heart Structure Jan 10, 2010
MONDAY, Nov. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is a major risk factor for left atrial enlargement, which increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke and death, a new study shows. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia (an irregular heart rhythm or heartbeat). (MEDLINEplus)
