MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'heart rhythm'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:20:37 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139732&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-difficulties-of-managing-implanted-medical-devices%2F2011.08.18 With the explosion of medical devices to treat various medical ailments in medicine, we have seen significant improvements in quality and quantity of life. An underappreciated consequence of all of these electronic device therapies, however, has been the manpower and expertise required to manage these implanted electronic medical devices long-term. Problems with electromagnetic interference (EMI) with medical devices are real. Innovations in medicine have come from various portions of the electromagnetic spectrum including analog and digital wireless technology, diagnostic and therapeutic radiation therapy and magnetic resonance imaging. The effects of these technologies on implanted electronic medical devices can vary and specialty physicians, ancillary health care providers, and medical ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139732 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:17:00 +0100 5139732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820857&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-industry-largesse-is-a-necessary-part-of-good-healthcare%2F2011.05.12 Largesse: (Form thefreedictionary.com): 1. a. Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner. b. Money or gifts bestowed. 2. Generosity of spirit or attitude. Two days into last week’s Heart Rhythm Society meeting, Propublica, an independent online investigative journalism-in-the-public-interest endeavor published a series of high profile articles as part of their Dollars for Docs series. Their marquee piece, published prominently in the USA Today, chronicled the strong financial ties (the ‘largesse’) that bind medical societies to industry. Reporters Charlie Ornstein and Tracy Weber highlighted the meeting’s ‘mansion’-sized exhibits, intense advertising, and the fact that most of the opinion leaders, officers of medical societies and guideline wri... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820857 Thu, 12 May 2011 15:30:02 +0100 4820857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813212&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fhas-heart-rhythm-society-become-more.html ProPublica's and USA Today's joint investigation of one medical society's ties to industry has created a stir.  (The full ProPublica version is here.)  It's worth doing a little reading between the lines to see its further implications.The Basic StoryThe story focused first on the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), a sub-specialized medical society for cardiologists who specialize in electrical or rhythm disorders.  The meeting seemingly has become a giant marketing opportunity, supported by $5 million in industry money, in which practically every flat surface became a medium for advertising.  (The ProPublica article included multiple pictures of branded items from carpets in the exhibit halls to the backs of the seats in shuttle buses... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813212 Wed, 11 May 2011 20:02:00 +0100 4813212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794904&cid=t_119999_109_f&fid=38951&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Flub-dub-lub-lub-lub-dubka-ching.html (Source: The Carlat Psychiatry Blog) The Carlat Psychiatry Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794904 Fri, 06 May 2011 14:55:00 +0100 4794904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775390&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbig-brother-taken-to-another-level-physician-movements-tracked-with-rfid-tags-at-medical-conferences%2F2011.05.02 Not everything that counts can be measured. Not everything that can be measured counts. -Albert Einstein Recently, a disturbing trend of monitoring physician quality and accountability has taken another ominous turn: tracking physician’s movements at scientific conferences (so called “tag and release”) using RFID tags imbedded in attendees name badges at national scientific sessions. Having had personal experience with the recent American College of Cardiology meeting, this technology will also be imbedded in the name badges for attendees at the upcoming Heart Rhythm Society meeting to be held in San Francisco in May. On first blush, it shouldn’t be such a big deal, right? It was all just a great way for companies to obtain, for a fee, the names and institutions of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775390 Mon, 02 May 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4775390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642592&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-government-is-not-keeping-up-with-medical-guidelines%2F2011.03.28 In case people are wondering if our governmental overlords really care about the latest and greatest treatment guidelines published by our professional health care organizations, take note. CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) is still using guidelines for defibrillator implantation from 2005 to justify payment for services in their national coverage decision, whereas the latest guidelines published by the Heart Rhythm Society published in 2008 carry signficiant differences in their recommendations for appropriate patients for this technology. So which set of guidelines should doctors use? The answer is obvious: if you use the latest data to decide who should receive a defibrillator, you might be subject to a Department of Justice investigation. So much for using updated guideli... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642592 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4642592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552058&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-turbulence-good-for-the-heart%2F2011.03.05 It’s hard to believe that turbulence could be a good thing for the heart. Consider how the word turbulent is defined: “Characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not controlled or calm.” Those traits don’t sound very heart-healthy. But when it comes to heart rhythm, it turns out that a turbulent response — to a premature beat — is better than a blunted one. The more turbulent the better. No, you haven’t missed anything, and turbulence isn’t another of my typos. Until [recently], heart rate turbulence was an obscure phenomenon buried in the bowels of heart rhythm journals. What Is Heart Rate Turbulence (HRT)? When you listen to the heart of a young physically-fit patient, you are struck not just by the slowness of the heartbeat, but also by the variability... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552058 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:00:27 +0100 4552058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190157&cid=t_119999_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsudden-cardiac-arrest-how-fast-does-it-cause-unconsciousness%2F2010.11.21 How fast does sudden cardiac arrest cause unconsciousness? In just seconds. Here’s a video of Salamanca soccer player Miguel Garcia’s episode. At the start of the video, Mr. Garcia can be seen in the background of the image kneeling behind the players in the foreground. Watch carefully as he stands after tying his shoes. Although it is difficult to see, it appears an automatic external defibrillator arrives in about two minutes, though given the fact his shirt is still on as he’s taken from the field, we note the device is on his gurney as he’s hurried to a nearby ambulance. Reportedly, he survived this sudden cardiac arrest event: This was NOT a heart attack, but rather a loss of cardiac function caused by a rapid, often disorganized heart rhythm disorder. Compar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190157 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4190157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022858&cid=t_119999_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fatrial-fibrillation-classic-signs-symptoms%2F “Irregularly irregular” heart rhythm (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022858 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:40:53 +0100 4022858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526824&cid=t_119999_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FY2IUIXhIKu0%2F           Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat that may be very fast.  Your heart has 4 compartments called chambers.  The top 2 chambers are called the atria.  The bottom 2 chambers are called the ventricles.  In atrial fibrillation, the atria stop beating regularly.  Instead, they tremble (fibrillate) in a disorganized way.  This can cause an irregular, and sometimes very fast, heartbeat.  Atrial fibrillation is most common in people older than 60 years of age.  However, you can get AF at any age.  Sometimes, atrial fibrillation has no cause, but your risk goes up if you have any of the following conditions: heart disease caused by high cholesterol, a larger heart size caused by high blood pressure, damage to a heart valve, an overactive thyroid gland, lun... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526824 Sun, 02 May 2010 20:31:39 +0100 3526824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416323&cid=t_119999_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FL5JLqz1QWAQ%2F File this under fabulous marketing. The recently launched Multaq drug for atrial fibrillation received some unusual treatment from the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society, which teamed to launch a new web site devoted to treating atrial fibrillation. As noted by CardioBrief, the Sanofi-Aventis logo appears in the lower right hand corner under “site sponsors” and no other companies are listed, but there is no specific mention of sponsorship, or the role of the sponsor. Here’s where it gets interesting. Last week, the site featured a “Learn From The Experts” lecture by Eric Prystowsky who showed slides on managing atrial fibrillation and made a case for off-label and off-guideline use of Multaq, CardioBrief writes. He “relies on subgroup a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416323 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:47:50 +0100 3416323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912217&cid=t_119999_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Ferratum.html Click to enlargeWhat's wrong with the cover from this week's Heart Rhythm journal. (Hint: arrow).This is why I don't think I'd ever like to be a copy editor because some smart a** will point out things like this.-Wesh/t: A fellow colleague in crimeMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. (Source: Dr. Wes) Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912217 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:51:00 +0100 2912217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=926318&cid=t_119999_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F164971877%2F Do you worry yourself to death? Are you anxious and easily panicked? I am a very anxious person by nature and tend to worry about things that I can’t even control. But there is new research that states that women who have at least one full blown panic attack increase their risk for heart attack, stroke and an untimely death. Well, well, well… if that isn’t reason enough to get my worries under control, I don’t know what would be. The results add panic attacks to the list of emotions and psychiatric symptoms that have already been linked to cardiovascular risk, including depression, anger and hostility, the authors note. Panic attacks could be associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension. Alternatively, anxiety could contribute to adverse c... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=926318 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:19:17 +0100 926318