Heart Beat: Talking it up: speech and atrial fibrillation
Heart Beat
Many things can set off atrial fibrillation (AF), the rapid and erratic beating of the heart's upper chambers. Triggers range from heavy alcohol consumption and stress to dehydration and downing an ice-cold drink. Cardiologists at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Ky., reported a case of speech-induced AF in a 68-year-old librarian. She had noticed becoming unusually tired during family gatherings, meetings at work, or when talking on the phone.
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