http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A new scientific statement from the American Heart Associations reminds physicians and people with congenital heart disease that regular physical activity is still important and should be promoted. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-aha-statement-people-congenital-heart.html Cardiology Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:00:02 EST news286466308 Through a collaborative genome-wide study on individuals, researchers have discovered 14 new genetic variations that are associated with heart rate. Since heart rate is a marker of cardiovascular health, these findings could provide a better understanding of genetic regulation of heart beat and is a first step towards identifying targets for new drugs to treat cardiovascular disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-gene-variations-heart.html Genetics Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:00:05 EST news285141560 For the first time, a UCLA team has used a technique normally employed in treating brain aneurysms to treat severe, life-threatening irregular heart rhythms in two patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-team-brain-aneurysm-treatment-irregular.html Cardiology Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:06:00 EST news282485149 Using powerful X-rays at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, scientists have reconstructed the scenario of heart arrhythmia in action, making critical progress towards preventing deadly conditions and saving lives. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-heart-arrhythmia-x-rays-cls.html Medical research Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:01:35 EST news280753276 Using powerful X-rays, University of British Columbia researchers have reconstructed a crime scene too small for any microscope to observe – and caught the culprit of arrhythmia in action. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-arrhythmia-culprit-caught-action.html Medical research Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:30:02 EST news280329612 (HealthDay)—Some research has suggested that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can help prevent an irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation. However, a new study finds these supplements have little effect on the condition once it develops. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-fish-oil-supplements-wont-irregular.html Cardiology Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:40:01 EST news275290717 Australian researchers have discovered for the first time that reduced heart rate variability – or changes in heart beat timing – best predicts cognitive disturbances, such as concentration difficulties commonly reported by people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This adds to the growing body of evidence linking autonomic nervous system imbalance to symptoms of this poorly understood disorder. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-chronic-fatigue-syndromea-stress.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:52:40 EST news272199138 Canadian scientists have determined that routine electrocardiogram (ECG) results for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)—the most common form of irregular heart beat—can help doctors identify those at higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including death. This knowledge will help doctors improve the treatment and prognosis of atrial fibrillation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-routine-electrocardiograms-health-patients-atrial.html Cardiology Sun, 28 Oct 2012 03:20:01 EST news270611120 Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have revealed the precise order and timing of hundreds of genetic "switches" required to construct a fully functional heart from embryonic heart cells—providing new clues into the genetic basis for some forms of congenital heart disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-scientists-genomic-blueprint-heart.html Medical research Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:46:15 EST news266759167 Patients admitted to hospital with obstructed heart arteries were three times more likely to experience complications when they were in hospital if they felt they were not in control of their condition, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-affects-complication-patients-acute-coronary.html Cardiology Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:27:21 EST news266758036 An observational study that examined the comparative effectiveness of rhythm control vs. rate control drug treatment on mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation (a rapid, irregular heart beat) suggests there was little difference in mortality within four years of treatment, but rhythm control may be associated with more effective long-term outcomes, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-effectiveness-rhythm-drug-treatment.html Cardiology Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:00:01 EST news258037407 For the first time in a new U.S. clinical trial, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have used the HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System (EAS) to correct abnormal electrical signals inside the heart of a patient affected by atrial fibrillation (AFib), one of the nation's most common heart ailments. The device is the first catheter ablation system to incorporate a camera that allows doctors to see a direct, real-time image of the patient's heart tissue during ablation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-mount-sinai-visually-catheter-ablation.html Cardiology Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:10:11 EST news249063004 (Medical Xpress) -- A new pharmaceutical program that many Britons might find literally hard to swallow, has been announced. Pharmacy chain Lloydspharmacy has partnered with American technology firm Proteus Biomedical to bring to the British public a product called Helius; a tiny microchip that is swallowed in pill form and whose purpose is to help remind patients to take their medications on time and to offer bio-feedback such as body temperature, heart rate and even sleeping patterns. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-british-pharmacy-chain-roll-out-smart.html Medications Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:24:00 EST news246104595 What do sweaty palms and abnormal heart rhythms have in common? Both can be initiated by the nervous system during adrenaline-driven "flight or fight" stress reaction when the body senses danger. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-snipping-key-nerves-life-threatening.html Cardiology Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:03 EST news243516813 Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disturbance in the United States and affects 2 to 4 million Americans. It is usually a disease of aging, however it can affect people of all ages -- 1 percent of people under age 60 and 10 percent of all people over age 80 have AF. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-medical-minute-atrial-fibrillation-.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:54:36 EST news237099242 In the primary result from the largest double-blind study ever completed to assess a drug's effect in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm abnormality, rivaroxaban, an anti-clotting drug, was shown to be an attractive alternative to warfarin, the current standard for treatment of atrial fibrillation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-heart-patients-benefit-drug.html Cardiology Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:21:26 EST news232215654