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.

dental floss

Be good to your teeth: Regular flossing reduces risk of stroke, AFib

The difference in atrial fibrillation risk was unexpected, surprising researchers.

A majority of Americans use a device to monitor their heart health, according to a new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. However, just 25% of those users take that extra step and share their data with a cardiologist or primary care provider.

Most Americans use devices to monitor their heart—just 1 in 4 share the data with doctors

Just a small fraction of the people tracking their own heart health are actually doing anything with the data, according to a new survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

AED in a hospital

Philips to sell its emergency care business to private equity firm

Bridgefield Capital, founded in 2015, has previously invested in such popular brands as Cirque Du Soleil, Del Monte and Quiksilver. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. 

cannabis use disorder marijuana joint weed smoking

Yes, physicians warn, cannabis is bad for the heart

Cannabis use is on the rise throughout the United States, but it is not as harmless as some people may believe. An in-depth analysis out of Stanford explored the many cardiovascular risks associated with regular cannabis use. 

Rakesh Gopinathannair, MD, FAHA, FACC, FHRS, director of cardiac electrophysiology laboratories at the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, explains lessons from the AHA statement on COVID caused arrhythmias.

Key details associated with the treatment of COVID-induced arrhythmias

Rakesh Gopinathannair, MD, lead author of a recent American Heart Association scientific statement on cardiac arrhythmias associated with COVID-19, reviewed the latest science associated with this important topic.

cardiologist viewing heart data

Aortic valve calcium scores help predict need for a permanent pacemaker after TAVR

RBBB remains the single strongest predictor for PPMI after TAVR, but high AV calcium scores still provide care teams with considerable value.

Medtronic's PulseSelect Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) System

Medtronic heart rhythm technologies on full display at AF Symposium 2025

Cardiologists shared updated data on Medtronic's ICM and PFA offerings during AF Symposium 2025 in Boston. 

The Medtronic SelectSecure MRI SureScan Model 3830 cardiac lead already gained FDA approval for His-Bundle pacing back in 2018. Now, the lead is also approved for left bundle branch area pacing, providing users with another option when treating patients for bradycardia. According to Medtronic, this marks the first time the FDA has approved a device for this indication.

New research highlights rising interest in LBBAP

The first patient has been enrolled in a new study of an optimized lead for LBBAP, an area with an explosion of interest in EP as a way to improve patient outcomes.

Around the web

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.