Heart and Circulatory System

Been drinking and your heart’s fluttering? You may have ‘holiday heart’

Maybe there’s a flutter in your chest or neck. Maybe you feel dizzy or short of breath. You may feel so concerned you go to the emergency department.

After a few tests, you’re told you have “alcohol-induced atrial arrhythmia”. In plain English, that’s an irregular heartbeat brought on by excessive, or binge drinking.

The condition is common at this time of year. That’s why it’s also called “holiday heart”.

Heart and Circulatory System, Heart Failure

Standing desks are bad for your health – new study

The phrase “sitting is the new smoking” has become popular in the past decade, highlighting the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. Prolonged sitting has been associated with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In response, standing desks emerged as a trendy solution, offering a way to reduce sitting time without drastically changing daily routines. But was there solid evidence to support the benefits of standing desks?

Woman holding her hands to her chest.
Cardiology, Heart and Circulatory System, Prevention, Women's Health

It’s time for a heart-to-heart about women’s cardiovascular health, unique risk factors and symptoms

Although cardiovascular disease is often considered a disease of men, women are more likely to die from a heart attack when compared with men. This fact often surprises women and even their health-care providers. Many women are not aware that heart disease is a significant health threat to them, but the reality is that five times as many women die from heart disease as breast cancer.