February is American Heart Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about the health impacts of heart disease and to spotlight the innovative ways that Mass General researchers are working to tackle these challenges.
Ami Bhatt, MD, is a cardiologist, clinical researcher and director of the Mass General Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. Dr. Bhatt specializes in the lifelong care and empowerment of teens and adults with congential heart disease, addressing valve problems, heart failure, multidisciplinary surgery, arrhythmia, pregnancy, telemedicine and wellness programs.
Learn more about Dr. Bhatt’s research in the Q&A below.
What Key Heart-Related Research Question Are You Investigating Right Now?
Our most recently published research addressed health-related anxiety in people with cardiac disease. Oftentimes, having heart disease makes us nervous about what will happen next. At times like the past two years of a pandemic, that anxiety rises exponentially. We worked with the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine on a program to build resilience and enrolled patients in eight sessions of virtual group therapy.
What is Unique About Your Approach?
We were excited to be able to create a safe space during multiple quarantine periods to continue to provide mental health, social and emotional support and connections for patients while teaching them research-proven techniques to build and practice resilience and treat health related anxiety. We were also able to use digital health tools like blood pressure cuffs at home to help us understand the effects of the program on stress management and heart health.
What Do You Love About Studying the Heart?
While much of our research over the past two decades has been based on catheter and surgical interventions, the use of novel medications and cutting edge technologies, we are equally proud of this most recent research as we recognize that cardiac care needs to be holistic—addressing the physical ailments of the heart, as well as the heart that keeps us going during challenging times.
About the Mass General Research Institute
Massachusetts General Hospital is home to the largest hospital-based research program in the United States. Our researchers work side-by-side with physicians to develop innovative new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.
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After reading these articles it impresses me to see that not all psychologist do not think that panic attacks anxiety and depression are not related to the heart.
It’s hard to talk to psychiatrist about being afraid of a heart condition and hear them say I understand because no you do not understand.