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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Holter monitor for low-risk patients gains FDA clearance

The device includes an adjustable design that can be updated as new features are finalized.  

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Cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias common among recovered COVID-19 patients

Monitoring the heart rhythm of patients who have fully recovered from COVID-19 might provide significant value, researchers wrote. 

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Driving restrictions for some ICD patients may need to change

Current restrictions for private driving after implantation of a secondary prevention ICD may keep patients from behind the wheel a little too long. 

Rest easy, heart patients—sudden cardiac death rarely happens during sex

Just 0.2% of cases evaluated in the study were tied to sexual intercourse. 

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Philips pledges to help American Heart Association raise awareness about CIED infections

A majority of patients in the United States with CIED infections do not receive proper, guideline-approved care.

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FDA clears new cardiac mapping solution for treating arrhythmias

The platform provides users with full 3D maps of a patient's heart. 

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Apixaban linked to lower bleeding risk than rivaroxaban for patients with nonvalvular AFib

A new meta-analysis compared outcomes associated with the two popular DOACs. 

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DOACs underprescribed among high-risk AFib patients

The study found that frail patients with AFib are less likely to be treated with DOAC therapy.