NEW YORK, NY – November 29, 2007 – VP Cheney’s diagnosis this week with an irregular heartbeat makes him one of the nearly three million Americans who suffer with atrial fibrillation. A condition characterized by erratic heartbeats, as well as dizziness, shortness of breath and even chest pains, atrial fibrillation is the most common of the known arrhythmia conditions.

Larry Chinitz, MD, Director of the NYU Heart Rhythm Center explains that while most atrial fibrillation is harmless, it can be an indicator of additional heart concerns in some people and bothersome to most. “In the Vice President’s case, his atrial fib is perhaps more of a concern due to his heart health history,” says Dr. Chinitz. “The average atrial fibrillation patient is inconvenienced by the arrhythmia versus at medical risk due to it. The important thing to know is that there are options to treat it.”

Options for treatment of atrial fib include:

• Radiofrequency ablation — a catheter-based procedure to fix the short-circuiting in the heart
• Electrical cardioversion — shocks the heart back into proper beating mode through a one-time, externally-delivered shock
• Permanent pacemaker insertion — therapy with special features to treat atrial fib
• Medical therapy — medication can control, but not cure, atrial fib

For information about atrial fibrillation or to schedule an appointment, call the NYU Heart Rhythm Center at 212-263-7149.

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