Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat, occurring when the two top chambers of the heart (atria) beat out of rhythm with the two lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles). If left untreated, this type of rapid, chaotic heartbeat can stretch and weaken the heart muscle. Atrial fibrillation also may restrict blood flow to other […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that social determinants of health – such as race, finances, housing, and employment – can lead to disparities in health outcomes.

Atrial fibrillation (AF, or “A-Fib”) is the most common type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Often mistaken for normal heart palpitations or written off as the result of aging, AF usually increases in duration and severity over time if untreated. AF affects 2 million Americans and is responsible for one in four strokes among people over 80.

Nearly 32 years ago, Jeana Nesmith Russell was beginning her dream career as a nurse in one of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s hospital units while pursuing her graduate degree. Little did she know that her life was about to change forever.

Last month, a structural heart team composed of interventional cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute completed the first valve-in-valve procedure using the Evolut™ FX TAVR system, a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement system.

Medical experts say it’s easier to maintain a heart-healthy diet when you cook at home. Surveys show that people tend to do more cooking at home during summer and early fall, because they grill out more often during those seasons. Experts don’t always agree on which grilled foods are the healthiest, but following the basic guidelines below can help you make grilling season a heart-healthy and delicious dining experience.

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) is proud to be consistently recognized as one of the top programs in the country. Learn more about our most recent national and regional honors listed below.

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 highly specialized clinic focuses on young athletes who need cardiac care along with sports medicine treatment. Because COVID-19 can sometimes lead to serious heart conditions, we recommend a medical evaluation for all young athletes who have had COVID-19 with symptoms.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Cardiovascular Institute has been awarded the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ventricular Assist Device Destination Therapy program for the seventh time. Ventricular assist devices, or VADs, are implanted mechanical pumps that support heart function and blood flow in patients who have weakened hearts.

Many people with high blood pressure (hypertension) don't know they have it. It causes damage slowly over a long period of time, often without noticeable symptoms, and it puts you at greater risks for developing life-changing and life-threatening medical conditions.

After having three open-heart surgeries, six cardiac catheterizations, five blood clots and two valve replacements all by the age of 13, Seth Wharton has overcome many obstacles and celebrated multiple achievements in his life. Now at the age of 44, Wharton has a new achievement under his belt — a Guinness World Record.

“Life over limb” is not a phrase Amanda Pullen-Hendrix ever thought she would hear, especially not on her 29th birthday. But on July 12, 2020, what she at first believed was an asthma attack turned out to be a life-threatening stroke and multiple blood clots.