Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, and it currently affects 2.2 million Americans, according to the American Heart Association. The irregular, rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation...
Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, that occurs when the heart's two upper chambers--the left and right atria--beat erratically and out of sync with its two lower chambers--the left and right ventricle. The...
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm originating in the two upper chambers of the heart, called the atria. This rapid and disorganized rhythm causes symptoms of weakness, shortness of breath and light-headedness, according to...
High heart rates of more than 250 beats per minute and a wavy pattern on the heart rhythm strip constitute atrial flutter. A-flutter may last only a few short beats and result in a couple of palpitations, but it can also become a chronic condition...
The heart is a complex organ that requires carefully coordinated electrical currents in order to beat properly. Atrial fibrillation is a type of cardiac arrythmmia that can cause serious health problems. Some vitamins, such as vitamins C and E,...
The body needs the mineral potassium to regulate muscle contraction. The heart, being a muscle, often responds to changes in potassium levels by developing irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. Normally, potassium levels in the blood range from 3.5...
Heparin and warfarin belong to the class of medicines known as anticoagulants, a class of drugs often referred to as blood thinners. Anticoagulants do not actually thin the blood, but they reduce the ability of the blood to clot. They may be...
Atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, is a heart condition in which your heartbeat is fast or chaotic and an insufficient amount of blood is pumped to your body. If you have A-fib, your doctor may encourage certain types of exercise. Although,...
Atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. When the heart is in a-fib, the top two chambers of the heart beat chaotically and independently from the bottom two chambers. This causes the heart to be less efficient in pumping...
Atrial fibrillation, or A fib, is an abnormal heart rhythm. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is the most common abnormal heart rhythm, affecting more than 2 million people in the United States. The incidence of having A fib increases with...
Atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, is a condition that affects the regularity of your heartbeat. During atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of your heart, known as the atria, beat out of sync with the lower chambers, known as the ventricles....
Atrial fibrillation (AF), also called A Fib, is an irregular, usually rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia), that originates in the upper area (atria) of the heart due to abnormal electrical cardiac impulses that make the heart "quiver." Consequently,...
Digoxin, a prescription medication known by the brand names Lanoxin or Digitek, treats heart failure and dysrhythmias. Because many factors can cause digoxin to accumulate to toxic levels, patients taking this medication need regular check-ups to...
Most heart problems develop slowly over time. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, lack of exercise and elevated blood cholesterol take a toll on the aging heart. The American Heart Association reports that in 2006, more than one-third of...
Atrial fibrillation (A fib) is an abnormal heart rhythm, can be intermittent or chronic and affects about 4 percent of people over the age of 65. The most common causes are hypertensive heart disease, heart attack, heart valve disease and chronic...
Your heart is an incredibly dynamic organ. Capable of recognizing and responding to changes in your behavior and physical activity, a healthy heart can adjust its function to meet most demands placed upon it. As we age, damage to your heart lead...
Your heart rate recovery rate after exercising is an important indicator of your overall health. Typically, a heart rate will begin to slow once the body has stopped performing intense physical activity, but it is possible that a heart rate does...
An increased heart rate is to be expected when running. Any cardiovascular exercise causes the heart rate to climb. You should try to run at a pace that keeps your heart rate in your target zone. Certain health conditions, however, can cause the...
The heart is the strongest muscle in the human body. Hardwired to beat automatically, the heart is a sophisticated combination of muscles and nerves that control and modulate your heart rate. According to the Yale University School of Medicine,...
Maintenance of normal heart rate and heart rhythm depend, in part, on the balance of electrolytes in your body. Not surprisingly, high or low levels of these vital nutrients upset the conduction system of your heart, leading to or worsening...
Your heart rate's intensity is dependent upon the type of exercise in which you engage. High-intensity exercise, such as sprinting or swimming, raises the heart rate more than low-intensity exercises, such as walking. Generally, the recovery...
Vitamin D has long been recognized as an important vitamin for synthesizing calcium to build strong bones. Products such as milk and juice are often fortified with it. But new information has linked vitamin D to atrial fibrillation, a cardiac...
Your heart rate slows once you stop exercising. The rate at which your pulse recovers after exercise is an important health indicator and can predict your lifespan, according to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic. Pulse rates in healthy and...
The heart normally beats in a rotating cycle of contraction and relaxation. This elegantly coordinated action is controlled by electrical impulses, which normally move across the heart with precision and reliability. When something goes awry with...
