Heart Beat: August 2012

0
While hypertension remains one of the strongest risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF), palpitations also appear be a strong predictor for AF, too, according a study reported in a recent issue of the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Researchers found that men who experienced frequent palpitations faced a 91 percent greater risk of AF and women a 62 percent higher risk than those who did not have palpitations. The study also reaffirmed hypertension as a major risk factor for AF for men and women. Researchers say their findings emphasize the importance of greater blood pressure control, as well as the need to take palpitations seriously and have patients who experience palpitations undergo prolonged electrocardiogram monitoring. If you experience palpitations, you should report them to your doctor, explaining how often you have them, what youre doing when they start, how long they last and what, if anything, helps them subside.
To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber. Sign in

Subscribe to Heart Advisor

Get the next year of Heart Advisor for just $20. And access all of our online content - over 2,000 articles - free of charge.
Subscribe today and save 38%. It's like getting 5 months FREE!
Already Subscribed?
Click Here to Sign In | Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access