I was one of the early adopters of fitness trackers. But very soon thereafter I gave them up. 4 reasons: Inaccurate Not helpful Cardiac neurosis Big data Inaccurate: There was a class action lawsuit against FitBit based on inaccuracy of its data. Apple Watch has been very well received by cardiologists and patients alike. While…
cannabis & the heart
There is lack of consensus on marijuana and its health effects. There is no question that THC helps chemotherapy associated nausea. However as this article suggest marijuana will increase risk of heart attacks in susceptible patients. Marijuana use has been associated with increased risk of stroke, though causality remains to be proven. Marijuana may contribute…
heart rhythm society
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AFIB – 4 pillars of treatment
Anticoagulation Rate control Rhythm control Lifestyle (risk factor) modification Anticoagulation Anticoagulation is used to prevent stroke based on the CHA2DS2VaSC score. Patients with a score more than or equal to 2 require anticoagulation based on ACC/AHA/HRS guidelines. In Europe, they anticoagulate for a score of more than or equal to 1. Some common anticoagulants are…
AFIB – unusual symptoms
Here are some common symptoms of AFIB: 50% of patients have no symptoms Fatigue/lack of energy/”feeling old” Palpitations (irregular) (can be fast/slow) Shortness of breath Dizzness Chest pain Initial presentation with stroke Some less common symptoms of AFIB: Frequent urination (due to atrial stretch and release of natriuretic peptide from the atrium). Back pain/abdominal pain/limb…
patient reported AFIB triggers
sleep quality & AFIB
Sleep apnea is strongly associated with atrial fibrillation. However, even after adjusting for sleep apnea, quality of sleep is an independent predictor for atrial fibrillation. Here is the full article: Article summary : The 2 variables that correlated with increased risk of AFIB – time required to fall asleep and frequent nighttime awakening. This decreases…
calerie
CALERIE (Comprehensive Assessment of Long term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy) was a study designed to determine the biological effects of two years of prolonged caloric restriction in humans. 218 adults – randomized to 2 groups. Control group followed their usual diet. Experimental group – goal was to reduce caloric intake by 25% but…
intermittent fasting
Every major religion and culture has promoted fasting for millennia. After a meal, glucose is released in the bloodstream. Cells use it for energy. Insulin is released and any excess glucose that is unused is stored in the fat cells as fat. We need to let the insulin levels come down, in between meals, so…
fiber, butyrate and brain health
High fiber diets decrease risk of obesity, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Can it help your brain too? Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by bacterial fermentation of fiber in the colon, can improve brain health. Butyrate is also present in butter, however gut bacteria can produce much higher levels…