Health News
Mortality Risk Established for Genetic Heart Rhythm Disorders
Investigators have found a method for predicting the mortality risk among patients with inherited heart rhythm disorders. The finding is also expected to help doctors know when to screen and treat family members.
Heart Arrhythmia Linked to Cognitive Decline
You may be aware of the short-term risks associated with heart arrhythmias. However, atrial fibrillation, a common type of abnormal heartbeat, also appears to come with added risks later in life.
Cardiac MRI Shows Reason for Heart Arrhythmia
The key to getting a cardiac diagnosis may be an imaging test called Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance ( CMR ). The imaging scan appears to identify a diagnosis 75 percent of the time, and may even provide the reason behind unexplained heart arrhythmias.
Heartbeat Vibrations Can Power Pacemakers
Scientists have long searched for an alternative to surgically replacing batteries in a pacemaker, which helps regulate an irregular heartbeat. A prototype draws its energy from a surprising source.
MS Drug Shows Promise to Treat Heart Condition
A multiple sclerosis drug may work double duty. It has been shown in a lab study to prevent and even reverse one of the leading causes of heart attack.
New Arrhythmia Drug Boasts Lower Brain Bleeding
Prior to its approval last year, there was much debate about Xarelto ( rivaroxaban ), an anti-clotting drug designed to prevent stroke among patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia.
Heart Arrhythmias Unknown Stroke Cause
About 33 percent of stroke survivors leave the hospital unsure of the cause. A new finding suggests about 20 percent of strokes with an undetermined cause may have been prompted by a heart arrhythmia episode.
Reevaluating Arrhythmia Patients
Every year about 100,000 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators ( ICDs ) are received by patients with life-threatening heart arrhythmias. About a quarter of those are replacements because of a depleted battery, many of which may be unnecessary.
Pre-Hypertension Still Raises Heart Risk in Men
Pre-hypertensive middle-aged men may have more to worry about than developing full-blown high blood pressure. They also are at an increased risk for a heart arrhythmia.
Pradaxa Linked to Heart Attack Risk
Blood thinner dabigatran ( Pradaxa ), approved in 2010 to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia, is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, a new trial suggests.