The publication Cardiovascular Business has named UAB Medicine Quality Improvement Manager Emily Pentecost to its “Forty Under 40” class of 2025. The annual list recognizes young individuals in health care who are making a major impact in the cardiovascular field.

One Saturday morning in June, Jamie Smith, 47, began her shift at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. What Smith thought would be a normal day led to her waking up in a hospital bed three days later.

Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, is a serious heart condition that affects the rhythm of the heart causing it to beat irregularly. It is estimated to affect 40 million people worldwide and 6 million in the United States alone, according to the Heart Rhythm Society. By 2035, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12.1 million people in the United States will have AFib.

The Specialty Clinics of UAB Hospital at UAB Medical West are now accepting adult patients of all ages for non-emergency care. Staffed by experienced and compassionate UAB Medicine doctors, nurses, and other professionals, these clinics are located on the 6th floor of the UAB Medical West medical office building (MOB) in Bessemer, Ala.

The holiday season can be a time filled with friends, family and, of course, holiday food and beverages. While it is perfectly fine to indulge in one’s favorite food and beverages this holiday season, it is best to avoid overindulging in these items, which can potentially lead to a condition known as holiday heart syndrome — also known as atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat that is associated with binge drinking. AFib caused by holiday heart syndrome can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and even heart attacks.

The study found that 70-75 percent of all participants, regardless of whether they were already on blood pressure medications or not, were likely to see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lowered the sodium in their diet.

The UAB Sports Medicine Cardiology Clinic helps young athletes with heart (cardiac) problems return to the playing field quickly and safely – including patients affected by COVID-19. Located at UAB Hospital-Highlands, the clinic is a partnership between the UAB Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Opened in May […]

The aorta is the main vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body, and it is made up of 3 layers. An aortic dissection is a tear in the wall of the aorta that occurs between the inner and middle of those 3 layers. As the tear extends along the […]

Heart disease is the nation’s leading cause of death and a major cause of disability. Heart disease can be inherited (congenital) or acquired during a lifetime of factors such as a damaging diet, lack of exercise, and the presence of stress. Most commonly, heart disease affects the coronary arteries, where plaque obstructs blood flow in […]

Aortic periprosthetic leak, or aortic periprosthetic valve leak, is a condition that sometimes occurs following surgery to replace the heart’s aortic valve with a mechanical valve. Periprosthetic essentially means “around the prosthetic,” which in this case refers to the mechanical valve. Periprosthetic leakage (PPL) is one of the most common reasons a second surgery is […]

Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve, the valve that allows blood to flow from the heart’s lower left chamber into the aorta and to the entire body. The narrowing prevents the valve from opening properly, forcing the heart to work harder. This causes pressure to build up in the lower left chamber […]