Category: atrial-fibrillation

An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of your heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation (afib) is the most common type of arrhythmia and affects at least 2.7 million people in the United States. Left untreated, afib can lead to life-threatening complications, such as blood clots and strokes. “Afib is a common disorder and occurs in… Continue reading Updated Afib Guidelines

If an ablation for atrial fibrillation is on your calendar, now is not the time to upend your life. Medical experts advise you not make drastic changes to your diet or lifestyle a few weeks before the procedure. Do take time, though, to learn more about what you should do in advance — and what you can expect… Continue reading 5 Things to Know Before an Ablation Procedure

If you’re one of the 2.7 million Americans who live with atrial fibrillation — a tricky-to-treat condition that causes your heart to beat irregularly — you may be unsure how to treat it. Symptoms of atrial fibrillation, also called afib, can be debilitating. They may include palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness. But trying… Continue reading Pros and Cons of Medication vs. Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Better care for patients with atrial fibrillation (afib) is the goal of treatment guidelines for doctors, based on research and clinical evidence. An estimated 2.7 million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation — an irregular heart rate that can lead to blood clots, stroke, and heart failure — and could benefit from updates in… Continue reading Guidelines for Afib Patients: Blood Thinner Medication, Less Aspirin

If you have atrial fibrillation and are on warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), keeping your blood levels within an ideal range may help you do more than avoid stroke, one of the major risks of having atrial fibrillation. Keeping your warfarin blood levels in a target range may also help protect you from dementia, according to new… Continue reading How Your Blood Thinner Affects Your Brain – And Dementia Risk

If you're about to have surgery, anxiety could momentarily give you butterflies and make you feel as though your heart is racing. But the actual surgery can leave some people with a rapid, irregular heartbeat known as postoperative atrial fibrillation, or afib. It often feels like the heart is fluttering chaotically, a shortness of breath, or… Continue reading How to Keep Your Heart Healthy After Surgery

It’s no secret that yoga is good for your body and mind, providing benefits like better flexibility, increased strength, and improvements in energy and mood. There’s also growing evidence that it can be good for your heart. The practice of yoga, which originated in India thousands of years ago, has been the focus of a… Continue reading 5 Heart-Health Benefits of Yoga

Your heart relies on electrical impulses to keep it beating at a steady pace. Problems with this electrical system can cause abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. The defective impulses may cause the heart to beat too slowly or too fast, or to beat in a disorganized and chaotic manner. Some of these different types of… Continue reading 6 Ways Your Heart Can Get Out of Rhythm

If your heart starts racing, your mind might, too: Is this a panic attack? Is this a heart problem? Sometimes it's hard to tell — even for doctors. The irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (afib), a physical disorder, shares some symptoms with a panic attack, an emotional problem, said John Day, MD, director of… Continue reading Heart Palpitations: Is It Afib or a Panic Attack? – Everyday Health

If you think you might have an irregular heartbeat like atrial fibrillation, a smartphone app may be able to confirm your suspicion — but you can check your heart rhythm on your own in simple ways, too. Sometimes the irregular heartbeat of atrial fibrillation isn't detected until the person has a life-threatening stroke or heart failure, because they… Continue reading Rethink How You Check Your Heart Rhythm