Arrhythmia News and Research

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An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. A heartbeat that is too fast is called tachycardia. A heartbeat that is too slow is called bradycardia. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. When the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs.

REBOOT trial finds no benefit of beta blockers after uncomplicated heart attacks

Beta blockers-drugs commonly prescribed for a range of cardiac conditions, including heart attacks-provide no clinical benefit for patients who have had an uncomplicated myocardial infarction with preserved heart function.

30 Aug 2025

Older age and low fitness identified as independent risk factors for heart rhythm disorders

New research has revealed that older age and low aerobic fitness levels are strong and independent risk factors for a high burden of heartbeat irregularities, known as arrhythmias, that indicate future cardiovascular risk.

27 Aug 2025

Exercise-based cardiac rehab cuts atrial fibrillation recurrence and boosts quality of life, study finds

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation reduces recurrence, severity, and burden of atrial fibrillation, while improving mental quality of life and exercise capacity. However, it does not impact mortality or serious adverse events and evidence for physical quality of life remains uncertain.

31 Jul 2025

High-performance computing sheds light on heart rhythm disorders

You may have heard the phrase "my heart skipped a beat" when someone was talking about a romantic encounter.

31 Jul 2025

Promising new male birth control pill could be taken every three days

YCT-529, a novel non-hormonal male contraceptive, demonstrates safety and tolerability in early trials, offering a potential solution for male birth control.

28 Jul 2025

Heart scarring linked to abnormal rhythms in older male endurance athletes

Scar tissue in the heart was associated with abnormal heart rhythms among healthy, long-time male endurance athletes age 50 or older, potentially increasing their risk of sudden cardiac death, according to a small study published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, an American Heart Association journal.

18 Jul 2025

New data confirms efficacy of mitochondrial donation in preventing disease

The UK's pioneering licensed IVF technique to reduce the risk of mitochondrial diseases carried out in Newcastle has seen eight babies born, published research shows.

17 Jul 2025

Research explains how low sodium weakens the heart’s electrical signals

New research explains how low levels of the electrolyte sodium in the blood can disrupt the timing of the heartbeat in patients taking widely used rhythm-control medications such as flecainide, which is commonly prescribed for atrial fibrillation and other fast or irregular heart rhythms.

15 Jul 2025

Poor lifestyle habits nearly double your chance of developing AFib

A large Framingham Heart Study analysis found that adults with poor cardiovascular health scores on the Life’s Essential 8 were nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation as those with ideal scores. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, especially optimal BMI, blood pressure, and glucose, may help reduce AF risk.

2 Jul 2025

AI model predicts death from sudden cardiac arrest with greater accuracy than doctors

A new AI model is much better than doctors at identifying patients likely to experience cardiac arrest.

2 Jul 2025

America slashes heart attack deaths but faces surge in deadly heart failure and arrhythmias

U.S. heart disease mortality has dropped 66% since 1970, mainly due to fewer ischemic heart disease deaths. However, deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertensive heart disease have risen sharply, signaling a new public health challenge.

26 Jun 2025

Can your athletic past raise your risk for atrial fibrillation?

Elite retired rowers face a nearly threefold increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared to the general population, driven by a combination of long-term cardiac remodelling and underlying polygenic genetic susceptibility.

26 Jun 2025

Chinese scientists develop highly efficient process for beta-blocker production

Chinese scientists have developed a breakthrough process that significantly improves the efficiency and environmental friendliness of beta-blocker production-with a focus on the widely used compound propranolol, which plays a vital role in managing cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, arrhythmia, and angina.

20 Jun 2025

Uncovering unexpected impacts of popular GLP-1 diabetes drugs

GLP-1 drugs show promise in diabetes management, offering heart and kidney benefits, but also highlight the need for vigilance regarding new health risks.

17 Jun 2025

Scaling 3D biology: Automation, imaging, and the future of high-throughput research

Discover how 3D biology, automation, and AI are revolutionizing drug discovery, improving predictive accuracy, and accelerating research.

From Molecular Devices UK Ltd 12 Jun 2025

Rutgers study challenges FDA warning on antiseizure drug

Rutgers Health researchers found that lamotrigine, a widely prescribed antiseizure medication, to be safe in older adults with epilepsy, contrary to a safety warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

11 Jun 2025

Is that evening glass of wine really good for your heart?

A comprehensive AHA review finds overwhelming evidence that heavy alcohol use increases cardiovascular disease risk, while the benefits of low-to-moderate drinking remain unproven and uncertain. The authors recommend prioritizing proven heart-healthy habits over alcohol for cardiovascular protection.

10 Jun 2025

Heart drug repurposed to kill hospital superbug Acinetobacter baumannii

A new study from Emory University addresses the growing global crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections. Many of these drug-resistant bacteria are spread through hospitals, and there are few antibiotics available for treatment.

10 Jun 2025

As cannabis users age, health risks appear to grow

Benjamin Han, a geriatrician and addiction medicine specialist at the University of California-San Diego, tells his students a cautionary tale about a 76-year-old patient who, like many older people, struggled with insomnia.

9 Jun 2025

Long-term cardiorespiratory effects of wildfire smoke exposure revealed

Being exposed to lingering fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke can have health effects up to three months afterwards, well beyond the couple of days that previous studies have identified, and the exposure can occur even after the fires have ended.

28 May 2025