Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm)
Generic Metoprolol Reveals Flaws With FDA’…
We have been writing about problems with generic metoprolol for more than a decade. This beta blocker is prescribed for patients with hypertension and heart problems such as angina pectoris, heart fai…
Show 1365: Revealing the Secrets of Sudden Cardi…
This week’s interview is on an underappreciated killer, sudden cardiac death. This is not the same thing as a heart attack. Our guest, Dr. Zian Tseng, has been studying cardiac arrest for years to l…
Study Shows No Need to Shun Coffee to Keep Heart…
Coffee has a bad reputation when it comes to irregular heart rhythms. Doctors often tell patients to avoid caffeinated coffee to keep their heart rhythm regular. A few recent studies contradict that c…
Amiodarone Side Effects Can Be Life Threatening
Amiodarone (pronounced A-mee-OH-da-rone; brand nanes Cordarone, Pacerone) is a challenging drug. It is considered by many as a last-ditch treatment for life-threatening irregular heart rhythms when no…
Getting Systolic Blood Pressure Under 130 Makes …
How important is strict blood pressure control to prevent strokes, heart attacks and other adverse cardiac events? A large randomized, controlled trial from China confirms that getting systolic blood …
Does Your Medicine Mess With Your Heart Rhythm?
Have you ever looked at your electrocardiogram (ECG)? Do you know if it is normal or if you have an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)? Most engaged patients know about their cholesterol, their blood…
Fish Oil for the Heart? Is It Good After All?
Please strap on your seat belt. Here is another huge medical flip flop! A really big controversy has to do with fish oil, also known as omega-3 fatty acids. Is fish oil for the heart helpful or is it …
Did The FDA Bury Details About Defective Medical…
The Food and Drug Administration has come under scrutiny for its approval and oversight of medical devices. In particular, metal-on-metal hip implants, plastic mesh for pelvic surgery, surgical staple…
The Dangers of Diclofenac and Other NSAID Pain R…
Doctors love NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). That’s largely because they don’t have a lot of other tools in the toolkit when it comes to treating pain and inflammation. Opioids have…
What Can You Do If Ibuprofen Triggers Atrial Fib…
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac, ibuprofen, meloxicam or naproxen are extremely popular pain relievers. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (Aleve) are even availab…
Will Nuts Protect You from Afib?
Nut lovers are less prone to the heart rhythm abnormality known as atrial fibrillation. In this condition, the upper chambers of the heart don’t pump blood rhythmically and efficiently. As a result,…
Beware Amiodarone Side Effects and Interactions
According to the FDA, "Amiodarone is intended for use only in patients with the indicated life-threatening arrhythmias because its use is accompanied by substantial toxicity." The FDA goes on to state…
Prescription for Licorice Pills Was Almost Letha…
When most people think of licorice (or liquorice in the UK), they imagine candy such as licorice twists, Panda All Natural Soft Licorice, Twizzlers, Good & Plenty or Dutch Licorice Cats. But licor…
Smart Phone Diagnosed Heart Rhythm Change
Smart phones have become valuable diagnostic tools, especially for cardiologists. A case study published in JAMA Internal Medicine describes a 62-year-old-man who began to feel faint during daily exer…
We’re Not the Only Ones! Cleveland Clinic …
Last week the FDA announced another metoprolol succinate recall. This time it was from the Indian generic drug company Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. The 25 mg metoprolol pills failed a dissolution test. I…
Are Popular Pain Relievers Really Killing People…
Every day millions of people swallow pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, etc) or prescription medications such as celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Catafl…
Could Your Pain Killer Be Killing You?
The Popularity of NSAID Pain Killer Pills: Physicians, pharmacists and patients love NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofena…
Amiodarone: Cancer, Thyroid & Other Side Ef…
Irregular heart rhythms can be very scary. So too are the drugs that treat these arrhythmias. That's because anti-arrhythmic medications often come with a long list of serious side effects. This is es…
Z-Pak May Scramble Heart Rhythm
A popular class of antibiotics called macrolides can cause a potentially fatal change in heart rhythm. The FDA has just issued a strong warning about one particular drug in this class called azithromy…
Fish Oil Flop for Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a challenging heart rhythm disturbance to control. The new drugs that are prescribed are often expensive and have significant side effects. That's why scientists have been inves…
Antibiotics and Sudden Death?
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a provocative article this week titled "Azithromycin and the Risk of Cardiovascular Death." It stimulated dramatic headlines: "Popular Antibiotic M…
Painkiller Warning Presents Dilemma
Q. A couple of weeks ago I read that popular painkillers can cause irregular heart rhythms. I stopped taking Aleve for pain because I do experience A-fib and atrial flutters. Since going off the Aleve…
Fish No Protection Against Heart Rhythm Disturba…
Eating fish is supposed to be good for your heart, but a new study suggests that a diet full of fish will not prevent the irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. The researchers analyzed da…
Procedure Trumps Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation
An irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation responds better to a procedure to inactivate a small area of heart tissue than to drugs. Atrial fibrillation causes an irregular pulse, a rapid and…
How Safe Is Tonic Water?
Q. I have been drinking a liter or two of tonic water a week for nearly 25 years. Now I'm reading about risks associated with quinine. How much is too much? How much quinine is in tonic? What are the …