Tag

Atrial Fibrillation

All articles tagged with #atrial fibrillation

Lionel Richie Halts Earth, Wind & Fire Tour After Successful AFib Procedure
entertainment15 days ago

Lionel Richie Halts Earth, Wind & Fire Tour After Successful AFib Procedure

Lionel Richie has paused his 'Sing a Song All Night Long' tour following a successful heart procedure for atrial fibrillation. The 77-year-old singer canceled three upcoming dates in San Francisco, Chicago, and Columbus to recover. While he is expected to return to the stage soon, his October Las Vegas residency remains tentatively scheduled, though no official confirmation has been issued regarding his ability to perform those shows.

Lionel Richie pauses tour to recover from heart procedure
entertainment17 days ago

Lionel Richie pauses tour to recover from heart procedure

Lionel Richie is pausing his tour after undergoing a heart procedure for atrial fibrillation; his rep says the procedure went perfectly and he’s doing well, but will take time off before returning to the stage, following earlier health bumps on the Earth, Wind & Fire tour and ahead of Las Vegas’ King of Hearts engagements.

Eye-Scan Thinning May Forewarn Atrial Fibrillation Years Ahead
health22 days ago

Eye-Scan Thinning May Forewarn Atrial Fibrillation Years Ahead

A large study of 90,000 eye scans found thinning in the ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer linked to a 27% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation years later; the effect appeared in both the AlzEye and UK Biobank cohorts and was detectable before AF diagnosis, suggesting routine retinal imaging could serve as an early warning signal to prompt closer heart monitoring—not a replacement for existing tests.

Eye Scans Signal Atrial Fibrillation Years Before Diagnosis
health23 days ago

Eye Scans Signal Atrial Fibrillation Years Before Diagnosis

Researchers analyzed OCT scans and color retinal photos from over 90,000 people and found that those who go on to develop atrial fibrillation have thinner macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers years before diagnosis, suggesting routine eye exams could noninvasively flag AFib risk long before symptoms and complement ECG for earlier stroke prevention.

The hidden AF risk for midlife cyclists—and how to ride with it
health1 month ago

The hidden AF risk for midlife cyclists—and how to ride with it

Midlife endurance cyclists have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm disorder linked to decades of riding and an enlarged left atrium. AF can cause sudden drops in power and dizziness during rides, but it’s treatable with medications, rhythm-control strategies, and sometimes ablation. Prevention isn’t foolproof, but risk can be managed through moderate training, healthy weight and blood pressure, good sleep, limiting alcohol around workouts, and treating related conditions like sleep apnea.

Long-term supervised exercise reduces atrial fibrillation burden, trial finds
health1 month ago

Long-term supervised exercise reduces atrial fibrillation burden, trial finds

A Norwegian multicenter randomized trial (NEXAF) in 295 patients with non-permanent AF showed that a one-year exercise program—eight supervised high-intensity sessions upfront plus long-term home-based activity with digital monitoring—reduced AF burden by 45% at one year (3.9% vs 7.1%, p=0.016). AF-specific QoL did not differ significantly, but participants improved cardiorespiratory fitness and had lower resting heart rate. Hospitalisations dropped 37% overall and 46% for AF-related events. The hybrid model was resource-efficient and feasible, supporting broader adoption of structured exercise in AF care.

Interacting Medications Drive Breakthrough Strokes in Anticoagulated Atrial Fibrillation
health1 month ago

Interacting Medications Drive Breakthrough Strokes in Anticoagulated Atrial Fibrillation

In 1,649 AF patients on anticoagulants who had a breakthrough ischemic stroke, about 44% had identifiable causes—primarily drug interactions (28.4%) or competing non-cardioembolic etiologies. Patients with a potential cause had roughly double the 90-day risk of a new ischemic stroke (HR ~2.04), and interacting drugs were linked to a ~3.3-fold higher 90-day risk of myocardial infarction; death rates did not differ significantly. The findings suggest a need for personalized secondary prevention beyond mere anticoagulation to address alternative stroke mechanisms.

Gut byproduct TMAO linked to higher atrial fibrillation risk, Cleveland Clinic study finds
health2 months ago

Gut byproduct TMAO linked to higher atrial fibrillation risk, Cleveland Clinic study finds

A Cleveland Clinic-led study finds elevated levels of TMAO, a byproduct of gut bacteria digestion of nutrients in red meat and other animal products, are associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. Analyzing blood from over 5,000 patients undergoing heart procedures and conducting cell studies, researchers suggest TMAO may alter the heart's electrical environment, increasing susceptibility to abnormal rhythms; findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, with potential implications for early dietary interventions to reduce AF risk.

Illinois Woman Receives Groundbreaking AFib Procedure Without General Anesthesia
health3 months ago

Illinois Woman Receives Groundbreaking AFib Procedure Without General Anesthesia

Carolyn Burk, a 75-year-old from Watson, IL, became Illinois’ first patient to receive Abbott’s Volt Pulsed Field Ablation system for atrial fibrillation. The procedure uses rapid electrical pulses to target and destroy faulty heart tissue and can be performed with sedation instead of general anesthesia, performed by Dr. Bharath Rajagopalan at Prairie Cardiovascular.

Rectal exam unexpectedly slows AFib heartbeat in case report
health5 months ago

Rectal exam unexpectedly slows AFib heartbeat in case report

A 29-year-old man with atrial fibrillation experienced a racing heartbeat at hospital admission. A routine digital rectal exam, combined with a Valsalva maneuver, is thought to have stimulated the vagus nerve and slowed his heart rate to about 80 bpm, with the irregular rhythm resolving and not returning months later. Standard AFib treatments typically involve medications or electrical cardioversion; this rectal-exam approach is not established therapy and requires more research. The patient was also prescribed an anticoagulant to prevent clots.

Rectal exam unexpectedly halts AFib in a 29-year-old man
health5 months ago

Rectal exam unexpectedly halts AFib in a 29-year-old man

A 29-year-old man in Queens developed sudden atrial fibrillation with a heart rate around 140 bpm. After admission, doctors planned cardioversion but first performed a digital rectal exam to check for GI bleeding before anticoagulation. During the exam, his heart rate slowed to 80 bpm and the AFib rhythm resolved to normal sinus rhythm; Palpitations subsided and he was discharged, with no recurrence at a 3‑month follow-up. The report suggests the rectal exam may have stimulated the vagus nerve via the Valsalva maneuver, increasing parasympathetic activity and slowing heart conduction, potentially counteracting the arrhythmia. Researchers caution it should not replace standard AFib treatments and call for more study to validate this approach.