Top 6: Our Most Read Blogs of 2022
Whether it’s from our engaged team at BIOTRONIK, inspiring patients, or expert physicians—one thing is clear from our most read BIOTRONIK blog stories of 2022: real stories, from real people, touch hearts.
This year’s most read list covers personal and inspiring stories such as what it’s like to work at BIOTRONIK, how cardiac patients can go on living active, healthy lives, and more. They also provide insights into physicians' daily practices and efforts to improve patients’ lives or better manage heart conditions. Here were the most read blog articles in 2022 – enjoy the year in review:
#1: Most-Read BIOTRONIK Blog of 2022: Women at BIOTRONIK: Four of Our Most Inspiring Leaders Talk About the Most Important Lessons From Their Careers
Released on International Women’s Day in March, this post featured insights from Heather Brogan from the UK, Amy Culley from the US, Paloma Quesada from Spain, and Elizabeth Wong from Singapore—who lead clinical, sales, and marketing teams at BIOTRONIK offices around the world.
The four talk about their advice for women pursuing leadership positions, what made them choose their fields, and finding mentorship.
#2: Staying Active and Sticking to Goals With a Heart Implant
One of the most inspiring patients with a BIOTRONIK device, Costa Rican journalist and marathon runner Marianella Cordero, shared the story of how she got back to running marathons after receiving her pacemaker in 2015.
Calling her BIOTRONIK pacemaker her “dream-maker,” Marianella shares how she developed the patience to gradually get her body ready again for racing and an active lifestyle. Having now run 15 marathons—over half with her pacemaker—she shares her next goals in this blog post from April.
#3: How to Select ICDs and Foster Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation
In this April interview, University of Szeged’s Dr. Mate Vamos goes into the clinical burden and risks of asymptomatic AF, recommending BIOTRONIK DX systems with atrial sensing for certain patients who are not currently candidates for atrial pacing and still not on anti-coagulants.
He takes readers through his flowchart for how to choose an ICD depending on atrial-related indications.
#4: The Future of AF Management in ICD Patients
For Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month in September, Prof. Dr. Reza Wakili, Division Head of the Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Service at Essen University Hospital, spoke to us about determining the AF burden, as opposed to simply detecting whether AF was present or not in patients.
Determining AF burden will become more and more relevant in the future, he told us. In addition, both connected health apps such as the BIOTRONIK Patient App and DX systems, featuring a single lead with atrial sensing, can play a crucial role in quantifying AF burden and adapting treatment.
#5: How Strong Data Protection Can Help Drive Digital Advancements
Strong data protection is often presented as something that tempers the promise of the Digital Age and the innovations that can potentially lead to great leaps for our healthcare.
In this blog from January, BIOTRONIK Data Protection Officer Boris Arendt says the opposite is often true—that strong data protection can help unlock the Digital Age’s promise.
In particular, he argues strong data privacy helps reassure patients that their information is safe, helping reassure them in using the latest technologies.
#6: The Role of Cardiac Nurses in the Digital Health Era
Cardiac nurses are a vital part of any cardiology practice and judging by the results of this piece, written to mark International Nurses Day on May 12th, readers agree.
As the article also outlines, many nurses feel overworked and undervalued, and as cardiac care becomes more digital, there’s a need to ensure innovations are also designed with nurses in mind, who end up going through much of the data to triage which patients should be seen quickly by their physician.
This post features invaluable insight on these topics from former nurses and now BIOTRONIK team members Heather La Bore and Amy Walker-Weston.
More Articles
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Blog25 Years of BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring: The Future of Cardiac Care Began in 2000
What if your cardiologist could spot a problem before you feel it? In 2000, BIOTRONIK made that vision real. With the launch of BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring®, the world’s first telemedicine system for remote follow-up of cardiac implant patients, we helped change how physicians care for people.
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BlogBIOTRONIK’s Longstanding Cooperation with Die ARCHE: A Partnership for Children
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Heart Monitoring for Irregular Heartbeat: “I Can Now Do Sports Again Without Any Worries.”
A BIOTRONIK employee shares his experience as a patient with an implantable cardiac monitor.
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BlogShaping Health Behaviors in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Optimizing Patient Experience With eHealth Solutions
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Improving Cardiovascular Health This International Women’s Day
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BlogHow Love Benefits Your Heart Health
Exploring the Science Behind Love's Cardiovascular Benefits
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BlogBIOTRONIK Employees Donate Over 14,000 Euros to the Arche Berlin-Hellersdorf
A Donation Ceremony Took Place at the Woermannkehre, on January 18, 2024
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BlogGold Standard for Two Decades: Why the Use of GoldTip is Still Unbeaten in Certain Ablation Procedures
In the midst of celebrating 60 years of service in partnership with the healthcare community, BIOTRONIK’s Electrophysiology business marked another important milestone of its own in 2023 – its 20 th anniversary.
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Blog60 Years of Saving Lives – How the BIOTRONIK Mission Continues
2023 was a landmark year for BIOTRONIK – not simply in name or number – but in action. The company’s 60 th year of operations was a busy one for lifesaving innovations like the Amvia pacemaker and CRT-P family and Oscar catheter, to laying the groundwork for helping a whole new community of patients with the Prospera TM spinal cord stimulation system, a BIOTRONIK first.
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BlogVascular Revolution Spurs Overdue Update to Radiation Guidelines
Prof. Anders Wanhainen Highlights New ESVS Recommendations, Advising on Suspended Personal Radiation Protection Systems for the First Time
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Blog60 Years of Saving Lives – How the BIOTRONIK Mission Spread Globally
What began with one lifesaving mission between two students in early 1960s Berlin now spans the globe: BIOTRONIK is active in more than 100 countries.
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BlogUnveiling Hidden Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for Stroke Prevention in ICD Patients
New Research Confirms Effective Tools to Better Protect Patients with High Stroke Risk
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Blog60 Years of Saving Lives – How the BIOTRONIK Mission Began
This year is a special year for BIOTRONIK, one in which we mark sixty years of service in the healthcare community.
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BlogBeyond the Workplace: BIOTRONIK's Commitment to Saving Lives
How One Colleague’s Act Inspires a Culture of Preparedness at BIOTRONIK
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BlogHow Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Help Patients with Chronic Pain
A global company that has been making devices for 60 years and has vast experience helping patients with heart and blood vessel diseases, BIOTRONIK has expanded to the chronic pain space with BIOTRONIK Neuro.
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BlogFive Cardiology Podcasts to Get Into
With being able to listen in while getting something else done – such as running, commuting or cooking – podcasts offer up great ways for us to keep up with what’s going on in every field imaginable – and cardiology is no exception.
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BlogEnhancing Care Strategies for ICD Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
The Findings of the MATRIX Study Could Change Clinical Practice, Says Cardiac Rhythm Expert Dr. Ignasi Anguera Camos
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Blog60 Years of Saving Lives & Giving Back – How BIOTRONIK Offices Support Local Communities
Our colleagues from around the world show that it sometimes doesn't take much to make a difference
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BlogSummer Reading Selections: Five Must-Read Studies for Clinical Practice and Trends
Explore the Latest Research on AI in Medicine, Atrial Fibrillation Detection, Resorbable Scaffolds, Non-Contact Charge Density Mapping, and Spinal Cord Stimulation to Enhance Clinical Practice and Stay Ahead of the Curve
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BlogA Golden Opportunity: Looking back at BIOTRONIK’s GoldTip Ablation. How it Began and Where it’s Headed
Pioneering spirit and passion for innovation – that's what BIOTRONIK stands for. This is also shown by the company’s flagship innovations: from the first German pacemaker to the GoldTip ablation catheter, a real innovation in electrophysiology that is still the gold standard today.
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BlogRemote Patient Monitoring With Alert Based Care Is the Future for Managing Cied Patients
A contribution by David Hayes, MD, Chief Medical Officer at BIOTRONIK Inc.
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How Much Exercise Is Enough for a Healthy Heart?
Recent Studies Reveal Optimal Levels of Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Health
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Blog“Hats off to Your Work!”
The first patient visit to BIOTRONIK in a long while met with excitement and enthusiasm
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BlogWomen’s History Month: Celebrating the Women Who Helped Shape Cardiology
Women’s History Month is the perfect time to celebrate the incredible achievements of the women who have shaped the field of cardiology.
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BlogNew German Supply Chain Act Focuses on Human Rights
Biotronik’s Chief Procurement Officer Takes a Look at the New Statutory Regulations
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BlogMindfulness Isn’t Just a Buzzword at BIOTRONIK
With 2023 upon us, BIOTRONIK employees are no exception to the kind of motivated goal-setting we often see at this time of year. Whether it’s more sports, a more mindful approach to everyday life, or to quit smoking—it’s important to have as much support as possible. That’s why BIOTRONIK’s Health Program 2023 will work to empower employees to achieve their health-related goals. 2023’s edition places a special focus on improving mental health at work, alongside the company’s work to promote physical health.
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BlogMyth or Fact? Your Device Security Questions Answered
While in office as US Vice-President, Dick Cheney had the remote monitoring function of his pacemaker turned off over concerns a malicious hacker could access his device. In 2012, an episode of the TV drama Homeland depicts a faraway terrorist hacking into the fictional US Vice-President’s pacemaker and assassinating him. It may have made for thrilling TV, but is successful malicious hacking of a cardiac device possible in real life?
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BlogPandemic Sees Big Jump in Remote Monitoring Use, but Reimbursement Still a Barrier
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BlogWhat We Eat—Some Surprises About Our Food and Heart Health
2022 has been a surprising year at times when it comes to studies of what we eat and how it affects heart health. Although there have been numerous publications looking at this relationship this year—a few stood out to us, and they may have interesting implications for our diets.
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BlogAdvancing Cardiac Patient Management Together
Digital Health brings opportunities to advance patient care but also new challenges. In addition to a marked increase in data volume in the clinical space and increased patient involvement in care, digital technology’s role in the care space has changed. This also allows enormous opportunities for early detection and preventing clinical problems, particularly for patients with an implanted cardiac device—when data and new digital technologies are optimally managed.
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BlogThe Future of AF Management in ICD Patients
How New Strategies Move Beyond Simple AF Detection to Focus on Reducing AF Burden and Monitoring Disease Progression
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BlogFirst BIO-LIBRA Results Pave Way for More Representative Clinical Trials
After starting enrollment in 2019, Dr. Valentina Kutyifa announced the first results of the BIOTRONIK-supported BIO-LIBRA trial at the Annual Heart Rhythm Society meeting (HRS 2022).
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Blog“Discussions With My Daughter Gave Me the Sense That Things Could Continue Normally”
BIOTRONIK Employees Share Their Experiences as Relatives of Cardiac Patients
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BlogSport For Pacemaker or Defibrillator Patients – How to Get Started Again?
More than 1.7 million cardiac implantable electronic devices are implanted worldwide each year. Young implant wearers in particular have many questions about whether and how their life will change after the procedure. One of the most important ones: whether and to what extent they can practice sports again. Media coverage of the Danish professional soccer player Christian Eriksen, who had an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) implanted after collapsing during an international match, has further increased interest in the interaction between cardiovascular diseases and sport.
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BlogTravelling With a Cardiac Implant is “Easier Than Expected”
Rolf Opuchlich has been with the BIOTRONIK Quality Team since 1997. In 2020, he received his own device. Despite knowing just about everything there is to know about the defibrillator he now wears, on his first vacation after getting his implant he was still a bit restless. “I was fairly nervous that first time,” says Rolf looking back at his first flight with his ICD after implantation. “Even though I know our devices well and had everything I needed with me.”
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BlogTeam Spirit Through Activity: BIOTRONIK Cyclists Hit Major Road Race After Three-Year Hiatus
Continuing a company tradition that started a decade ago, BIOTRONIK employees at the company’s headquarters mounted their bicycles in early July to race through Berlin as a team during VeloCity Berlin—an event that sees teams come together for either a 60km race or a 90km race through the German capital.
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Blog“I Now Know What Really Matters in Life”
Around 49 million people in the EU suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Here, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) accounts for the major share of the diseases. In this context, narrowing of vessels by atherosclerotic processes is closely linked to an unhealthy lifestyle. This was also the case for the North Rhine-Westphalian deacon Rainer Beerhenke. After successful stent placement and a bypass surgery in 2021, the 58-year-old is again living life to the full and is one of the first patients to take part in the EU-funded TIMELY project, which aims to improve the range of therapies for CAD patients.
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BlogRadiation and Occupational Safety in Interventional Cardiology
Cardiac catheterization labs can be complicated workplaces when it comes to occupational safety.
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BlogThe Effects of Air Pollution on Heart Health
Higher quality of life, more biodiversity and a better climate – the advantages of green cities seem obvious. Green living – including breathing clean air – plays an especially crucial role for our heart health and overall well-being. On the occasion of World Environment Day, we looked at what effect air pollution has on heart health and what each of us can do to make our cities more livable.
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BlogThe Role of Cardiac Nurses in the Digital Health Era
Why Innovative Treatment Solutions Should Be Designed With the Nurse in Mind
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BlogHow to Select ICDs and Foster Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation
The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) is approximately 21 percent (mean annual probability) 1 and is often undetected – and therefore untreated.
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BlogStaying Active and Sticking to Goals With a Heart Implant
Cardiac pacemaker implantations are now routine interventions. Around three million people worldwide have a pacemaker, and every year 600,000 more receive an implant. Nevertheless, the diagnosis and procedure can look challenging for patients at first— especially patients who are athletes or enjoy being active.
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BlogSupporting Cardiac Device Patients in Getting MRI Scans—How Should Physicians Facilitate?
More than ten years after BIOTRONIK received approval for its first ProMRI pacemaker, allowing the first cardiac device patients access to MRI scans, we still get many questions from patients about what documents they should bring to a scanning appointment—to ensure their radiologist doesn’t turn them away.
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BlogWhy We Support More Representative Trials in Cardiology
Cardiovascular research has achieved a lot in the last few decades—but even today the cardiology community is discussing whether the field needs gender-specific guidelines for treating cardiovascular diseases. One of the biggest obstacles is one of the most common problems in scientific research—a simple lack of data.
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BlogHow Strong Data Protection Can Help Drive Digital Health Advancements
It’s hard to think of information that feels more personal than data about our own health. Yet we’re generating and monitoring more health data now than ever before. Whether it’s specific technology designed to help manage certain medical conditions—such as BIOTRONIK’s Patient App or remote care with Home Monitoring—or the plethora of more general, consumer-grade wearables and health apps, there are more and more digital options to help manage patient health.
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BlogResolutions Worth Keeping: Living Heart-Healthy in 2022
An American survey last year found that health-related goals topped the priority list of New Year’s resolutions for 2021. Around half of those surveyed wanted to exercise more or lose weight, while about 40 percent wanted to improve their diets and 10 percent wanted to quit smoking. Of those people who make resolutions, many say they do, in fact, keep them. Around half of respondents in one such survey said they kept at least some of their 2020 resolutions. About 35 percent said they met all of their goals and just 16 percent say they didn’t keep any of their resolutions.
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Blog“I did not let it throw me off course”
How a CLS Pacemaker Helps Cabaret Artist Wolfgang Koch Live Life to the Fullest
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BlogFive Things All Cardiac Device Patients Should Know
Read the Most Common Patient Questions We Received in 2021 and Answers From Our Experts
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BlogFour Ways to Lower Your Atrial Fibrillation Risk
Atrial Fibrillation Is the Most Common Type of Heart Arrhythmia and Affects About 30 Million People Worldwide.
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BlogFuture of Resorbable Scaffolds Looks Rosier
As More Data Comes In, There’s Plenty of Reasons to Be Optimistic About Scaffolds
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BlogWhat Role Can ICMs Play in Stroke Prevention?
As ICM Use Becomes More Common, How Can Clinics Manage the Workloads That Come With the Longer-Term Diagnostic Windows ICMs Offer?
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BlogWomen at BIOTRONIK
Four of Our Most Inspiring Leaders Talk About the Most Important Lessons From Their Careers