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.

Apple Watch AFib feature becomes first-ever digital tool approved by FDA to evaluate medical devices
Healthcare technology companies can now use AFib findings recorded by an Apple Watch to help demonstrate the effectiveness of their devices to the FDA.
Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF
Researchers explored data from nearly 2,500 AFib ablation patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.
American Heart Association thinks pharmacists can play a bigger role in AFib care
Pharmacists interact with patients on a regular basis and are seen as a trusted source of health information. Can they help cardiologists improve care for AFib patients?
2 out of 5 AFib patients develop heart failure later in life
Stroke is typically seen as the biggest danger for patients after they receive an AFib diagnosis. This study, however, suggests heart failure could be an even bigger threat.
FDA grants fast track designation to new drug for Friedreich's ataxia cardiomyopathy
The new gene therapy candidate is now one step closer to being approved by the FDA.

Incoming 2023-2024 American College of Cardiology (ACC) president Hadley Wilson, MD, shares insights on how to create health equity through both ACC programs and hospital grassroots community outreach programs. He outlines four programs his heart hospital is piloting in its community in Charlotte, North Carolina.

How cardiologists can address health disparities in their communities

Incoming 2023-2024 American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, shared insights on how to create health equity through grassroots community outreach programs.

February 28, 2023

The increased use of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) is associated with identifying more bradyarrhythmias such as bradycardia, according to new findings published in JAMA Cardiology.

Increased AFib screening improves bradyarrhythmia detection—but is it a mixed blessing?

When long-term continuous monitoring detects bradyarrhythmia in an asymptomatic patient, is it still providing value?

February 21, 2023

Medtronic shared some good news with attendees at ESC Congress 2022 in Barcelona, the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, noting that its Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (EV ICD) system met its safety endpoints in a global clinical trial. Medtronic EV ICD clinical trial safety endpoints ESC Congress 2022 #ESC #ESC2022 #ESC22

Medtronic’s new extravascular ICD gains key approval

Unlike other ICDs, the lead for this new-look device is placed under the patient's breastbone, outside of their heart and veins.

February 17, 2023

4 key takeaways from ISC 2023: AFib detection, improved stroke survival and more

Leading stroke specialists from all over the world gathered in Dallas for the 2023 International Stroke Conference. Catch up on some of the biggest stories that came out of the three-day event.

February 13, 2023

FDA calls out weight loss pills for ‘hidden’ ingredient that puts health of heart patients at risk

The agency’s own analysis confirmed that these capsules contain sibutramine, which was removed from the market back in 2010 due to safety concerns

February 10, 2023

Image courtesy of the University of Missouri Zheng Yan, PhD. He led a team of engineers at the University of Missouri (UM) to develop a new soft, stretchable material that could potentially be used in wearable devices that gather key cardiovascular data. The group shared its findings in Science Advances, noting that the material creates such a small amount of pressure that users will not even notice they have it on.

Researchers design new material for wearable devices: ‘You cannot feel it, and you will likely forget about it’

The soft, stretchable material creates so little pressure that users will likely not even even be able to feel it.

February 8, 2023

Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination. Surgeons Operating On Patient

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events.

February 3, 2023

Abbott FlexAbility Sensor Enabled Ablation Catheter FDA

Abbott gains new FDA approval for one catheter, CE mark approval for a second catheter

Both devices were approved for treating significant heart rhythm issues.

February 2, 2023

Heart Rhythm

Apple Watch AFib feature becomes first-ever digital tool approved by FDA to evaluate medical devices

Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF

American Heart Association thinks pharmacists can play a bigger role in AFib care

2 out of 5 AFib patients develop heart failure later in life

FDA grants fast track designation to new drug for Friedreich's ataxia cardiomyopathy