Heart

Scarring of heart tissue can be slowed but not stopped, and can lead to heart failure. But a new study has shown that an existing immunotherapy could stop scar tissue formation after heart attacks.

A new injectable, temporary pacemaker could help correct a heart arrhythmia in an emergency. This nanoparticle gel can regulate the heart’s electrical signals for up to five days before dissolving harmlessly in the body.

For babies born with a certain heart defect, implantation of a "shunt" is essential to their survival. A new type of shunt can be expanded using light after it's been implanted, potentially eliminating the need for more heart surgeries down the road.

A new medical 3D-printing method has been developed that takes its cues from the way tangles of worms interact in nature. The resultant material produced could patch up leaky heart parts or stabilize spinal discs, among other applications.

For the first time, the fully mechanical heart made by BiVACOR, which uses the same technology as high-speed rail lines, has been implanted inside a human being. The feat marks a major step in keeping people alive as they wait for heart transplants.

It turns out that blasting people with shockwaves during open-heart surgery is a really good idea. That's what researchers found who used the technique to reactivate heart cells and improve the post-op lives of patients in a groundbreaking study.

Even young, healthy passengers put their heart health at risk when they consume alcohol before sleeping on a flight, particularly a long-haul flight, according to a new study. The researchers say it's an underestimated risk that could easily be avoided.

Examining long-term outcomes for people with atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder, a new study found that 55% survived to 10 years. The researchers say it needs to be treated as a chronic illness with serious long-term consequences.

Trained on simple heart rate data, an AI model can predict an episode of atrial fibrillation 30 minutes in advance. With plans to incorporate it into a smartphone so it can analyze data from a smartwatch, the model would act as an early warning system.

Inflammation from a viral infection has traditionally been thought to cause acute myocarditis, which can lead to fatal heart arrhythmias in healthy young adults. Now, it seems it's something else that damages heart cells before inflammation kicks in.

A new pacemaker is thinner than a human hair, wireless and operated entirely by light from an optic fiber. The non-invasive device could help regulate heart activity or even stimulate neurons in a set pattern to treat conditions like Parkinson’s.

More than 50 Taylor Swift songs have an optimal tempo for delivering effective chest compressions during out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. Researchers are hoping Swift’s music will teach fans – and others – how to save a life.