An ageing population and our western lifestyle are ensuring that the prevalence of a common medical condition, atrial fibrillation (AF), is increasing at such a rate that it is predicted to be the next cardiac epidemic.
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common medical condition that arises from a problem within the electrical system of the heart. Although it is widespread - 30 million sufferers worlwide - one of its peculiarities is that many sufferers are not aware they have it and it is discovered after a collapse or as an 'incidental finding', for example, when a patient's pulse is being monitored in association with surgery or other medical procedure.
Atrial Fibrillation, commonly known as AF, kills three times as many people as car accidents each year in the western world.
Although the world's focus is on COVID-19, people who suffer a heart condition should continue to treat and manage their circumstances as a priority.
What would a cardiologist tell his grandchildren about living a long and healthy life?
Energy drinks are incredibly common. We see them advertised and we see them everywhere. We see not only sportspeople but young adults and teenagers consuming these beverages regularly. So, questions need to be answered:
Exercise and Heart Health - Please check out Great Health Guide July/August
Have you ever wondered about the magnificent organ that lies within your chest - Your Heart! It is an intricately designed organ that pumps blood throughout the entire body, beats without you ever thinking about it, but it can be broken in many ways. So, let's understand your heart and six vital things there is to know to stay in great health.
Opioid use has been found to exert numerous damaging effects on the heart. Below are the real facts that you need to know about opiate pain killers and heart attack risk.
You may be surprised that fitness is no guarantee of heart health and that arteries in your heart are in good shape. For instance, in recent years, I had an extremely fit patient come to see me for a stress test. At that time, he was training for an endurance event and by all accounts, he was in fantastic shape. Several years earlier we had scanned his heart and we found that he had a build-up of cholesterol in his arteries for which he was already receiving therapy.