February is American Heart Month, but heart health is important all year round. Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., a cardiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute, says making small lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of heart disease and the use of medications to regulate health.

In August of 1995, the Miley family found themselves in a hospital room celebrating the arrival of their newest addition, a baby girl named Brooke. A year later, the family was back in the hospital for a different reason. Brooke had restrictive cardiomyopathy, a life-threatening condition that the hospital could not treat.

Small teams of UAB Medicine cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and nurses are making a positive difference in South America, where they volunteer to share their expertise in complex pediatric heart disease and defects with local doctors.

The study found that 70-75 percent of all participants, regardless of whether they were already on blood pressure medications or not, were likely to see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lowered the sodium in their diet.

It was just another ordinary, early morning for Patrick Jones. While his wife, Debbie, was out attending to a sick horse on their South Carolina farm, Patrick ambled to the kitchen to make his daily cup of coffee. That journey to the kitchen would be the last thing Patrick remembered until he regained consciousness with Debbie by his side, as paramedics loaded him for emergency transport.

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) received the highest possible rating of three stars for its yearly participation in the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI).

It is possible to have a broken heart, though not in the way people typically think. While many people think of a broken heart on an emotional level, Gregory Chapman, M.D., a cardiologist in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute, says a broken heart can impact the body on a physical level, causing temporary cardiac episodes or, in rare cases, even death. 

The on-field collapse of Buffalo Bills defensive player Damar Hamlin in January due to cardiac arrest sparked conversations about safety in the National Football League. As sports go, however, basketball players actually suffer the highest rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to show affection or celebrate romance with cards, flowers, and candy. It’s a good day for sweethearts, but it can also be a reminder of how expressions of love and caring may benefit the body. Research suggests that physical demonstrations of affection can improve some health factors and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) published a study in Circulation showing that, among ventricular assist device recipients, patients with a particular form of dilated cardiomyopathy known as familial dilated cardiomyopathy have better clinical outcomes compared with other forms of the disease.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute has received four prestigious awards from the American Heart Association for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure through reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.

When dying young runs in the family, fear is never far behind.