Drug-Induced Arrhythmias: List of Drugs that May Cause Arrhythmia
Drug-Induced Arrhythmias: List of Drugs that May Cause Arrhythmia There are many commonly used medications that can cause a variety of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). These drug-induced arrhythmias are often the result of medication-induced changes in electrical conduction within the heart which can produce heart rhythms that are too fast (tachyarrhythmias) or too slow (bradyarrhythmias). […]
Can Atrial Fibrillation Be Caused By Anxiety?
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a chaotic, abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). It can cause symptoms of palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and decreased exercise capacity and can have a significant impact on quality of life. Strong negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, and anger have been associated with atrial fibrillation (AFib). There appears to […]
New Risk Factors for Heart Arrhythmia
The risk of experiencing an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) increases with age and most people over the age of 75 years experience irregular heartbeats at some point. Not all irregular heartbeats are bad or need treatment. Factors that determine if an arrhythmia is clinically significant include: duration, arrhythmia type, underlying risk factors or trigger(s), and associated […]
8 Surprising AFib Triggers
Bill is exhausted this morning. He just finished his fourth cup of coffee in an effort to jumpstart his energy. He is sitting at the table when he feels the heart palpitations begin. Bill looks at his smartwatch and sees that his heart rate is 120 and is going up and down erratically. With a […]
Atrial Fibrillation And High Blood Pressure
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) causes an irregular, chaotic heart rhythm and affects 9% of Americans over the age of 65. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common cause of atrial fibrillation. A person with hypertension is almost twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation as someone who has normal blood pressure (BP). High blood […]
Atrial Fibrillation: AFib and Congestive Heart Failure
There are epidemics of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and heart failure in the United States. Heart failure affects approximately 6 million Americans over the age of 20. Atrial fibrillation is estimated to affect 5.2 million people in the U.S. The prevalence of heart failure and atrial fibrillation have increased over the past decades due in part […]
Atrial Fibrillation and High Blood Pressure
The normal heart rhythm is coordinated and regular. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that causes a chaotic and irregular heartbeat. High blood pressure is the most common cause of atrial fibrillation (AFib). High blood pressure has a major impact on the development, progression and outcomes of AFib. High blood pressure can cause […]
Atrial Fibrillation: Pathophysiology in Afib
Maria is a 65 year old female who presents to the emergency room complaining of shortness of breath and palpitations. A heart monitor confirms the presence of an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and shows atrial fibrillation (AFib) with a heart rate of 130 beats per minute. The nursing staff tell her the doctor will be […]
Gas Pain in Chest: Heartburn or Heart problems?
Can gas cause chest pain? The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. It passes directly behind the heart. Acid or gas in the esophagus can cause irritation and lead to chest pain that mimics heart attack symptoms. It can be difficult to tell the difference between gas pain and a […]
How to prevent a stroke?
What is a stroke? A stroke happens when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked or significantly reduced. Blood supplies oxygen and nutrients to brain cells and when blood flow is interrupted brain cells begin to die. This process can happen in a matter of minutes. If you think someone is having […]
