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Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD  Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD


Doctors & patients are saying about 'Beat Your A-Fib'...


"If I had [your book] 10 years ago, it would have saved me 8 years of hell.”

Roy Salmon, Patient, A-Fib Free,
Adelaide, Australia

"This book is incredibly complete and easy-to-understand for anybody. I certainly recommend it for patients who want to know more about atrial fibrillation than what they will learn from doctors...."

Pierre Jaïs, M.D. Professor of Cardiology, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, Bordeaux, France

"Dear Steve, I saw a patient this morning with your book [in hand] and highlights throughout. She loves it and finds it very useful to help her in dealing with atrial fibrillation."

Dr. Wilber Su,
Cavanaugh Heart Center, 
Phoenix, AZ

"...masterful. You managed to combine an encyclopedic compilation of information with the simplicity of presentation that enhances the delivery of the information to the reader. This is not an easy thing to do, but you have been very, very successful at it."

Ira David Levin, heart patient, 
Rome, Italy

"Within the pages of Beat Your A-Fib, Dr. Steve Ryan, PhD, provides a comprehensive guide for persons seeking to find a cure for their Atrial Fibrillation."

Walter Kerwin, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA


Can a Broken Heart Lead to Atrial Fibrillation? Yes!

by Patti J. Ryan, October 2016

Called ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’, a new study finds that the death of a partner is linked to a heightened risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The risk seems to be greatest among the under 60s and when the loss of the partner was least expected.

Risk of A-Fib with loss of partner

Risk of A-Fib with loss of partner

The researchers looked at a national registry in Denmark of 88,612 people who were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and 886,120 healthy people matched for age and sex, and between 1995 and 2014. Other factors that might influence atrial fibrillation risk were included as well.

They found that people who had lost a partner were 41% more likely to develop atrial fibrillation in the first month after losing their partner. The risk seemed to be greatest 8 to 14 days following a death and gradually subsided during the following year.

More Evidence of Mind-Heart Link

Experts suspect acute stress may directly disrupt normal heart rhythms and prompt the production of chemicals involved in inflammation.

This study adds evidence to the growing knowledge that the mind-heart link is a powerful association.

What can be done about this risk? The answer requires more research but may focus on the way the body deals with stress.


Recommended Reading: The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness, by Jerome E. Groopman.

Written by an oncologist and citing actual patient cases (mostly cancer), Dr. Groopman explores the role of hope in fighting disease and healing. Top scientists are interviewed who study the biological link between emotion and biological responses; the most relevant studies are reviewed.

NPR Interiew with Dr. Jerome E. Groopman.

NPR Interiew

The author shows how hope, belief and expectations can alter the course of our lives, and even of our physical body. HOPE works! (For more read my review on Amazon.com.)

Dr. Groopman Interview: Listen to an audio interview with The Anatomy of Hope author, Dr. Groopman on NPR’s Fresh Air program (recorded Sept. 2004; 20 min.)

Resources for this article
Graff, S., et al. Long-term risk of atrial fibrillation after the death of a partner. Open Heart, 2016; 3 (1): e000367 DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2015-000367 http://openheart.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000367.abstract

Sifferlin, A. How Getting Your Heart Broken Hurts Your Physical Heart. Time.com, April 8, 2016. http://time.com/4283739/broken-heart-syndrome-marriage-death/

Risk greatest among under 60s and when loss least expected. ScienceDaily. Date: April 5, 2016. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160405221213.htm

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