Atrial Fibrillation News

Millions of Americans have the potentially dangerous irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation.

New research finds that a person's risk of atrial fibrillation (a-fib) increases by about 3% for every inch over the average height of 5-foot-7.

The strongest risk factor for a-fib was the number of times per week a person drank. The greatest risk was seen in those who drank every day, followed by drinking twice or once a week.

Researchers found that adults who grew up with smokers were more likely to develop atrial fibrillation, versus those with nonsmoking parents.

This irregular rhythm, called ventricular tachycardia (VT), occurs when the heart's lower chambers start to beat uncontrollably fast. Once it starts, it can kill within minutes.

A-fib is a common heart rhythm disorder sometimes triggered by stress and negative emotions. Beta blockers are drugs that block the effects of adrenaline and related substances.

The study improves understanding of how this wearable technology and app works in the real-world setting and how well the technology can detect long periods of a-fib, said a study co-leader.

Study subjects who got ablation -- where a catheter is used to tweak the heart muscle cells responsible for the arrhythmia -- also seemed to have less shortness of breath, less fatigue and all-around better quality of life five years later, with those who got drug therapy alone.

The newer drugs are called non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Examples include dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and apixaban (Eliquis).

People with the highest levels of salt in their diet had a higher rate of atrial fibrillation than those with the lowest salt intake in a new study.

After the start of Daylight Saving Time, 3.13 people a day were admitted to a New York hospital for atrial fibrillation, significantly more than the 2.56 daily admissions for the same problem rest of the year, researchers said. The findings add evidence that Daylight Saving Time may adversely affect health, the scientists said.

In a new study, people who had atrial fibrillation were 40 percent more likely to develop dementia than those without the heart condition.

Smoking May Boost Risk of AFib By Robert Preidt                  HealthDay Reporter         MONDAY, July 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- The more you smoke, the greater your chances of developing a common heart rhythm disorder that increases your risk of stroke and early death, researchers say."If you smoke, stop smoking, and if you don't smoke, don't start," said study author Dagfinn Aune, a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London."We found that smokers are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation, but the risk is reduced considerably in those

Wearable, At-Home Patch Could Spot A-Fib Early By Robert PreidtHealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, July 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- The common but dangerous heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation -- or a-fib -- can go undetected for years.Now, research suggests a high-tech, wearable patch might spot the condition early.Use of the Zio XT wireless patch, made by iRhythm, produced "an almost threefold improvement in the rate of diagnosis of a-fib in those actively monitored compared to usual care," said study lead author Dr. Steven Steinhubl. He directs digital medicine at the Scripps Translational Science Institute, in

Folks at greatest risk? Those in psychologically demanding jobs that give employees little control over their work. For example, assembly line workers, bus drivers, secretaries and nurses, the researchers said.

It's the first time a connection has been made between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and "A-fib," which typically arises with age and is the most common type of heart rhythm problem.

Half as many pot users had atrial fibrillation, about 4.5 percent compared with 8.7 percent of nonusers. Atrial fibrillation increases a person's risk of stroke and heart attack.

In a large study, Swedish researchers found that eating nuts three or more times a week was associated with an 18% lower chance of having AFib. It also helped cut the odds of heart failure.

The study from Germany found that the technology used to power the cars won't interfere with pacemakers or implantable defibrillators.

Smartwatches may help detect a serious heart rhythm irregularity known as atrial fibrillation.

New research finds that the risk of stroke is much higher in black Americans with afib than in whites with the condition.

For people 40 and older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could trigger an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and other troubles, the agency warned in advance of Halloween.

Blood thinners may pull double duty for people with the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation: New research suggests they help prevent dementia as well as stroke.

Each decade of teetotaling lowers risk of atrial fibrillation, study finds

Excess weight also ups risk for the heart rhythm disorder, study says