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.

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American Heart Association explores close ties between mental, cardiovascular health

Depression, chronic stress, anxiety and anger are all associated with a heightened risk of heart rhythm irregularities, stroke and other serious cardiovascular conditions. 

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Male breast cancer patients face a heightened risk of cardiovascular issues

The new findings are part of a virtual conference being hosted by the American College of Cardiology. 

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AFib ablation is effective for HCM patients, leading to long-term rhythm control

Overall, 60% of patients demonstrated complete freedom from recurrences of atrial fibrillation or atrial tachycardias.

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Nighttime cardiac arrest, a ‘perplexing and devastating phenomenon,’ more common among women

Physicians may want to think twice before prescribing certain medications, including drugs for pain or depression, to some female patients, the authors observed. 

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Alcohol consumption, even just a daily glass of wine, leads to a heightened risk of AFib

Researchers tracked data from more than 107,000 patients, completing what is believed to be the largest study of its kind. 

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Non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants vs. warfarin for AFib patients: What the latest research tells us

Tracking data from more than 10,000 patients, researchers shared their findings in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

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American College of Cardiology shares new guidelines for treating patients with anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy

The ACC is celebrating the holiday season with a new gift for cardiologists.

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Philips acquires US-based heart monitoring specialists for $2.8B

BioTelemetry made $439 million in sales in 2019, with a significant portion of that coming from solutions related to heart rhythm disorders.

Around the web

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

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