4D digital heart model transforms treatment for heart failure patients

A made-in-Calgary 4D heart model is transforming treatment for heart failure patients having a specialized pacemaker inserted, called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In a national clinical trial, published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Dr. James White, MD, and his team found a clear benefit to using the model to target treatment. Developed at the University … Read more

Moderate exercise lowers atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation

New research from CU Anschutz scientists suggests that staying physically active after heart rhythm treatment may significantly reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) returning, offering patients a simple, low-cost way to support long-term heart health. The study, published this month in the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, found that adults who engaged in regular, … Read more

Microscopic structural changes in the aging heart may reduce risk of arrhythmias

Virginia Tech researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have discovered that microscopic structural changes in the aging heart may reduce the risk of irregular heartbeats. Medically known as arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats become more common with age and can lead to health problems. But a new study in JACC Clinical Electrophysiology, a journal of … Read more

ADHD Medications and Cardiovascular Effects: New Data

A new systematic review and network meta-analysis showed few differences in the cardiovascular (CV) effects of stimulants and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Short-term use of amphetamines, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, and viloxazine was associated with small increases in blood pressure (BP), pulse, or both in children, adolescents, and adults. Further, the … Read more

High-Intensity Exercise Safe in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

TOPLINE: A 12-week supervised high-intensity exercise programme was feasible for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), leading to potential improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk factors, and psychological outcomes, without an increased risk for arrhythmias. METHODOLOGY: This study examined the feasibility and impact of an individualised high-intensity exercise programme in patients with HCM recruited at three … Read more

When Sudden Cardiac Death Happens Without Warning

Almost half of people who experience sudden cardiac death were never diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) before it was too late, warned investigators. “A substantial number of deaths happen in people we don’t see in the cardiac ward,” said Tobias Skjelbred, MD, a cardiologist at Copenhagen University Hospital and lead author of a new nationwide … Read more

AI deciphers intracellular signals from extracellular recordings in heart cells

A team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego and Stanford University has developed a noninvasive method to monitor the electrical activity inside heart muscle cells from the outside, avoiding the need to physically penetrate the cells. The method, published on Jan. 14 in Nature Communications, relies on recording electrical signals from … Read more