Heart Disease

New findings suggest that misfolded proteins accumulate in the heart atria, particularly in patients with hypertension, and may contribute to atrial heart disease. Read More

In some cases, HDL, the "good cholesterol," may not function properly and may actually accelerate atherosclerosis. Read More

Endothelial cells residing in the coronary arteries can function as cardiac stem cells to produce new heart muscle tissue, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered. Read More

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of four institutions that are part of a new research network aimed at preventing heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the world. Read More

Smooth muscle cells that line the aorta differ in development but not in the adult, a finding that has implications for understanding aortic development and disease. Read More

In a new Health and Wellness Wellcast, Janet McCutchen with Work/Life Connections and physician Paul Ragan discuss the link between heart disease and depression. Read More

Hypertension Clinic members include, from left, Sandy Berryhill, LPN, Lynn Christman, Cheryl Laffer, M.D., Matt Luther, M.D., Fernando Elijovich, M.D., Robert Manning, R.N., and Karen Gore, R.N. (Not pictured: Nancy Brown, M.D., Barb Dotson, R.N., and Mena Mangrum, LPN. The American Society of Hypertension (ASH) has… Read More

A “profile” of the genes and regulatory networks that govern early heart valve development lay the groundwork for generating valves from a patient’s own cells. Read More

Vanderbilt University scientists have discovered a potential new strategy for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels and stopping atherosclerosis and fatty liver disease. Read More

(iStock) September is National Cholesterol Education Month and Health Plus is encouraging faculty and staff to get cholesterol checks if recommended, and to take steps to lower cholesterol if it is high. It is also a good time to learn about lifestyle choices that can make a… Read More

A genetic variant may help keep an individual’s “good” cholesterol in check. Read More

The Health Care Innovation Award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is one of the largest federal research grants awarded to VUMC investigators. The funding will support the implementation and evaluation of MyHealthTeam, a model of team-based care that couples collaborative health care teams with health information technology in order to improve control of chronic conditions. Read More

Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for men in Tennessee and cancer deaths continue to move further away from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy People 2020 goal, according to the 2012 Tennessee Men’s Health Report Card. Read More

Vanderbilt University is already doing genetic analyses of patients to help in developing a shortlist of effective drugs, says Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at its medical school. Read More

Studies offer new insights into how obesity impairs the function of HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Read More

Compounds developed at Vanderbilt could offer a whole new way to treat atherosclerosis. Read More