New Research Explores Link Between Mind-Body Techniques and Blood Pressure

A new study published in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Mass General, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has found a possible explanation for why performing activities such as yoga and meditation can help patients reduce their high blood pressure without medication.

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What’s Next for Cardiac Research and Clinical Care?

The American Heart Association hosted its annual Scientific Sessions in November. This week-long event provided an opportunity for clinicians, basic scientists, and researchers to discuss what’s new and what’s next for cardiac research and clinical care. Here’s what Massachusetts General Hospital researchers and cardiologists found most interesting from this year’s sessions

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Using Zebrafish Models to Study Cardiovascular Disease

Mass General Research Institute goes red for heart month

Maryline Abrial, PhD, is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Burns Lab at the Cardiovascular Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. She took part in a science communication internship at the Mass General Research Institute this fall. She wrote this first-person account of her life as a researcher as part of her internship. Background and…

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Could Strenuous Exercise Be Bad for Your Heart?

Research has already confirmed that moderate-intensity exercise (like walking briskly, water aerobics, or tennis) on a regular basis can improve heart health. But a recent review conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital’s Aaron L Baggish, MD, director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center Cardiovascular Performance Program, found that the same may not be applicable for high-intensity, strenuous exercise.

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Could Part of Our Genome Predict Future Risk for Heart Disease?

Research from Saumya Das, MD, PhD, co-director of the Resynchronization and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, focuses on studying irregular heartbeats (known as arrhythmias) in patients with heart failure, discovering new tests to better identify who is at risk for developing heart failure or arrhythmias, and uncovering new therapies to treat heart failure.

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Women’s Heart Health Program Leaders Look Ahead

Nandita Scott, MD and Malissa Wood, MD, co-directors of  the Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program

Cardiovascular disease — including heart attacks, stroke and heart failure — is the number one killer of adults, but more women die of it than men. The Elizabeth Anne and Karen Barlow Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program was launched in 2007 to focus awareness, treatments and research on the unique issues women face in maintaining heart health.

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