Regular Nut Intake Is Linked to Lower Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Eating several servings of nuts every week may help lower the risk of developing the heart rhythm irregularity, atrial fibrillation or AFib according to research published online in April 2018 in the journal Heart. A release from the publisher notes that this level of consumption may also lessen the risk of developing heart failure, although… Continue reading Regular Nut Intake Is Linked to Lower Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Long Working Hours Increase the Risk of Developing Atrial Fibrillation

People who work long hours have an increased risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to a study of nearly 85,500 men and women published in July 2017 in the European Heart Journal. A release from the European Society of Cardiology notes that the study showed that, compared to… Continue reading Long Working Hours Increase the Risk of Developing Atrial Fibrillation

AFib May Affect Walking and Strength in Older Adults

When older people develop atrial fibrillation — the most common type of irregular heartbeat – the condition accelerates age-related declines in walking speed, strength, balance, and other aspects of physical performance. That is the finding of research published in April 2016 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, an American Heart Association journal. A release from the… Continue reading AFib May Affect Walking and Strength in Older Adults

Comparing Old and New Drugs for AFib in People Age 65+

When it comes to preventing stroke, millions of Americans with irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrilation or AFib) face a choice: Take one of the powerful but pricey new pills they see advertised on TV, or a much cheaper 60-year-old drug that can be a hassle to take, and doesn’t prevent stroke as well. It doesn’t seem… Continue reading Comparing Old and New Drugs for AFib in People Age 65+

How Blood Thinners Can Help Afib Patients

If you’re one of the 2.7 million Americans who have atrial fibrillation, you have an increased risk of a stroke. You can greatly reduce the risk of a stroke by 50% to 60% by taking a blood thinner (anticoagulant). A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot, depriving brain… Continue reading How Blood Thinners Can Help Afib Patients

No Link Between Coffee and AFib

There is no association between coffee consumption and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to research published September 2015 in the open access journal BMC Medicine. The research includes a meta-analysis of four other studies, making it the largest study its kind, involving nearly 250,000 individuals over the course of 12 years. A… Continue reading No Link Between Coffee and AFib

Some Afib Patients Get Unnecessary Blood Thinners

About a quarter of all atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at the lowest risk for stroke receive unnecessary blood thinners from cardiology specialists, according to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco who contend that the providers must be made aware of the resulting potential health risks. Their research letter appears online and will be… Continue reading Some Afib Patients Get Unnecessary Blood Thinners

Safer Drug Combo for AFib

Patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation, or AFib, often require one drug to regulate heart rhythm and a second drug to thin their blood and reduce the risk of stroke. A study led by a University of Missouri School of Medicine cardiologist and published in March 2015 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology,… Continue reading Safer Drug Combo for AFib

Painless AFib Treatment

A technique called cardiac optogenetics achieves defibrillation without the pain of electric shocks, according to research presented on July 4th at Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology (FCVB) 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting is organized by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with 13 European cardiovascular science societies.