During atrial fibrillation, blood isn’t pumped completely out of the atria. The blood may pool and clot, leaving the atria and becoming lodged in an artery in the brain. The end result is a stroke.

New research from cardiac experts at Rush University Medical Center reveals that women are more likely than men to experience symptomatic attacks of atrial fibrillation. They also endure a higher number of recurrences. Women also have significantly higher heart rates during atrial fibrillation, and that increases the risk of stroke. In short, more women are dying from strokes. Findings will be published in the September issue of Gender Medicine.

The study also found that women are not prescribed blood thinners as often as men, resulting in a higher incidence of blood clots. Researchers also found that women are referred less often or later for procedures such as pacemaker implantation or ablation. At Rush University, you can read more about the gender differences between women and men when it comes to treatment for atrial fibrillation.

(Image via MorgueFile)

Post from: Blisstree

Atrial Fibrillation More Dangerous to Women

This problem is not as serious as ventricular fibrillation, this occurs when your heart stops beating. When ventricular fibrillation occurs the heart has to be shocked back to life, as you have seen on TV.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia, when there is a problem with the speed in which your heart beats; it is classified as a type of arrhythmia.

AF occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals in the heart’s two upper chambers, called the atria (AY-tree-uh), cause them to contract very fast and irregularly (this is called fibrillation). As a result, blood pools in the atria and isn’t pumped completely into the heart’s two lower chambers, called the ventricles (VEN-trih-kuls). When this happens, the heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should.

You can have AF without knowing it, because symptoms aren’t always noticeable. When left untreated AF can lead to more serious problems, such as a heart attack.

If you experience any irregular heartbeats or chest pains call your health care provider immediately.

You can learn more about this subject by clicking here Atrial fibrillation

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Atrial Fibrillation

Women with osteoporosis, that are taking or have taken Fosamax, should ask their health care provider about an alternative treatment.

Patient’s that are taking or have taken Fosamax are twice as likely to develop an irregular heartbeat. The risk is higher for those that have a family history of heart failure.

There is an 86% higher risk for atrial fibrillation, for patient’s that have taken Fosamax. A study at University of Washington found that 3% of the women in their study of new cases of atrial fibrillation may be due to their use of the drug Fosamax.

When you have a question about any medication that is prescribed for you, don’t hesitate to ask your health care provider about side effects.

Make sure that you always get a printout of the side effects of the prescriptions at your pharmacy as well.

You will learn more about Fosamax, by clicking here  Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

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Fosamax Causes Irregular Heartbeat

In fact, as many as one in every five strokes in America are related to atrial fibrillation, which is also called AF. That’s more than 150,000 strokes a year. People with AF have a stroke risk that’s up to six times higher than the risk for other people their age — and if they have other health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, their stroke risk is even higher.

Medications and treatments such as ablation are key in treating and controlling a-fib. There is many meds out there and blood thinners to chose from. There are new up and coming procedures being tested and used in very select areas.

Another technology… is an experimental treatment that uses a special balloon-camera to see inside the heart, and a tiny laser to “zap” heart muscle tissue with the same goal as the RF ablation technique: to create tiny scars that will prevent irregular electrical impulses from getting through.

Any way you look at it- it is ever so important to keep your blood tinned and a-fib in control as well as up o date on your cardiologist appointments. And as always, if your heart is racing and you are feeling dizzy, nauseous or faint, call 911!

via University of Michigan

Post from: Blisstree

Keep up on your a-fib to prevent a stroke

Women who have used Fosamax are nearly twice as likely to develop the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) than are those who have never used it, according to research from Group Health and the University of Washington.

They are saying that women that have used the commonly prescribed osteoporosis medication Fosamax have an over 85% higher chance of developing atrial fibrillation then those that have never used the medication. Now, should you run upstairs and flush your Foamax? No indeed.

If you have a high risk for a-fib such as a history of an irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, history of a stroke or symptoms of a “fluttering” heart or palpitations you should make an appointment to discuss matters with your doctor. Make sure the benefits out way the risks.

via Science Daily

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Fosamax increases a womens risk for atrial fibrillation