Search Results

Atrial Fibrillation: What Does that Quiver Mean?

One of the top cardiovascular problems I receive questions about from my readers is atrial fibrillation (AF). That’s not a surprise since more than 2.2 million Americans have this cardiovascular problem. But there’s two things you need to understand if you have AF… 1. Uncontrolled AF (episodes…

Read More

With Beta Blockers, Conventional Medicine Wins!

atrial fibrillation. Believe it or not, this is the one time I feel conventional medicine trumps natural alternatives. Beta blockers are cardiology workhorses, and in my opinion the safest and most effective class of drugs we have. Low-dose beta blockers are effective in controlling atrial fibrillation,…

Read More

The Truth About Beta Blockers

Low-dose beta blockers are effective in controlling atrial fibrillation and lowering blood pressure levels. They also help prevent damage to the heart when oxygen flow is reduced. Research shows that taking beta blockers following a heart attack protects against arrhythmias that can develop as a result…

Read More

Could You Have Atrial Fibrillation and Not Know It?

Recently, a reader on my blog asked me for the typical and atypical signs of atrial fibrillation (AF). That’s a good question because some people have AF and don’t know it. Yet, if left untreated it can cause long-term complications. Here’s why… AF is an irregular heartbeat caused when the heart’s…

Read More

What Cardiologists Should Be Telling Patients about Their Phones

…tremor, syncope, brief loss of consciousness (LOC) and had tachycardia (abrupt, rapid heartbeat). * Two had a heart attack and one developed atrial fibrillation (AF) That was 1970. Then, in 2010 Canadian Magda Havas confirmed that 20% of healthy subjects developed cardiac arrhythmias when provoked by…

Read More

Beta Blockers 101

…prescribing them because they are among the safest of all cardiac drugs. I also use beta blockers in cases of congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. This is one medication that you probably shouldn’t ditch for a natural alternative. However, if you experience undesirable side effects, tell…

Read More

Is There Such a Thing As Too Much Vitamin D?

…heart by causing atrial fibrillation. They cited research presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association where 132,000 adults in Utah with an average of 52 were followed by 20 months. What they didn’t reveal is that those who had an increased risk of atrial fibrillation were a tiny subset…

Read More

Prevent Blood Clots to Prevent Stroke

…history * Men * History of heart attack and/or stroke * Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure levels, vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and sickle cell anemia * Drug/alcohol abuse * Poor diet * Sedentary lifestyle * Living in the southeast US (“stroke belt”) * Low socioeconomic…

Read More

Blood Thinners 101

…stroke if you have mechanical heart valves, atrial fibrillation, or had an extensive heart attack (scar tissue weakens contraction of the left ventricle, which may allow blood to stagnate and clot). Blood thinners are also prescribed for atrial fibrillation, mechanical heart valves, and prevention of…

Read More

Calcium Channel Blockers 101

…grapefruit juice. Caution: Be careful when you combine calcium channel blockers with digoxin for treatment of congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Some of the calcium-channel blockers can increase the digoxin in your blood to dangerous levels. This can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite…

Read More

Arrhythmia Diagnosis

…that your doctor can see what kind of arrhythmia you have. Fast heartbeats for long time periods can occur with what we medically refer to as atrial fibrillation (AF) and supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs: supraventricular identifies the source of the problem in the conduction system; tachy=fast, cardia…

Read More

More Good News About Chocolate and Your Heart

…chocolate every few days. But, there is one caution. Caffeine in chocolate can aggravate cardiac arrhythmias such as PAC’s, PVC’s, and atrial fibrillation, so I discourage chocolate for those folks bothered by these disorders or who are diabetic. Now it’s your turn: Have you found that chocolate…

Read More

Winter Survival for Your Body and Mind

…rate * Enhancing your heart rate variability In fact, research has shown that doing three yoga sessions a week can help to reduce episodes of atrial fibrillation by 50%. I hope you can make yoga part of your winter routine, and can plan to join me June 28-30 at Kripalu. We expect a larger attendance this…

Read More

Should You Take Coumadin?

…blood and prevent clots which can cause strokes. This is especially true if you have mechanical heart valves, suffered an embolic stroke, have atrial fibrillation (AF), or had an extensive heart attack. But, like any drug, Coumadin does have side effects. The major one is excessive bleeding (bleeding gums…

Read More

Why Yoga Is Powerful

…just three yoga classes a week can cut episodes of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib)—by half! This is huge news since these abnormal heart rhythms affect roughly 2.2 million Americans. To get their findings, the researchers compared atrial fibrillation episodes and quality of life among 49 patients. For…

Read More

Vascular Dementia Can Happen to Anyone

…time high blood pressure is the cause. But it can also happen in people with arteriosclerosis, valvular disease, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and pacemaker therapy. The classic signs of VaD are slowed thinking, memory problems, confusion that often worsens at night, personality changes…

Read More

Prevent Blood Clots

…them). * Suffered an embolic stroke, one of three types of stroke caused by a fragment or clot of blood pumped from the heart to the brain. * Atrial fibrillation (AF), where atria fail to contract; blood forms pools and becomes sluggish. * Had an extensive heart attack (scar tissue weakens heart muscle…

Read More

Cardiology Terminology: Arrhythmia

…prematurely. We frequently see PVCs in women who have mitral valve prolapse. These irregularities are usually not a problem for healthy people. Atrial fibrillation is another arrhythmia that often develops with aging, where the heart “regularly irregular,” though you may not feel it. Can arrhythmias…

Read More

Is What You’re Feeling Aging, Or Do You Need a Pacemaker?

…your turn: Have you, or someone you know, gotten a pacemaker and found it made a difference? You May Also Be Interested In: * When People with Atrial Fibrillation Need Pacemakers * Bad Vibrations Can Hurt Your Heart

Read More

Are You a Candidate for EECP?

…contraindications to the procedure and cases where EECP cannot be employed: * Ventricular aneurysm. * Uncontrolled arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation or multiple premature ventricular ectopic beats. * Uncontrolled high blood pressure levels. * Coumadin or other anticoagulation therapy. * Aortic…

Read More

Is Your Smartphone the Latest ECG Machine?

…heart out of rhythm, or aggravate an arrhythmia you may be experiencing. * While getting a quick look at your electrocardiogram may detect atrial fibrillation, a remote ECG transmission can also miss that arrhythmia if your heart is going in and out of a normal rhythm. * A single ECG will not show an…

Read More