Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable.
Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and working with your physician to manage your health are all integral aspects of saving lives from this often silent killer.
Cardiac psychologist Anne Saltzman and Dr. Tamara Horwich
At UCLA, our 160 cardiovascular research laboratories, working together with teams of physicians and health care professionals are united in a mission to understand the roots of this complex disease. We are designing therapies and interventions that do not just prevent heart disease but effectively treat it.
Together, they are focusing on the following key areas:
Queen Latifah and her mother.
Queen Latifah joined a special discussion with Queen Latifah, Karol Watson, MD, the American Heart Association and Sharecare to educate the public on living with heart failure. Latifah's mother suffers from the condition. Watch the interview >
I am a 65 year old white male w a long history of cardiac issues. I had my 1st heart attack when I was 35 and subsequent 4 way bypass surgery at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach Ca. Additionally I had a 2nd minor heart attack when I was 49 and at that time had ... read article
Family history both parents at UCLA Santa Monica came here for bypasses lived longer till about 15 years longer. I had both till I was in my 30’s. Thank you UCLA Santa Monica for longer care for my parents. As for myself heart issues at 52 too much stress. It’s my drives to Orange County ... read article
On Feb. 22, 2016, Michael Bannon was taking his daily morning bike ride when tragedy struck. Somewhere along his one hour route through Santa Monica, Bannon, now 57, suffered a massive heart attack and was left “dead on the road,” he says. A passerby found him and started chest compressions; then emergency personnel resuscitated him ... read article
“Having heart disease is not easy, and finding out the only cure is a heart transplant is really difficult,” says 24-year-old Iris Franco, who received a heart transplant at 16 years old at UCLA Health. “My younger sister became ill when she was 10 years old. They discovered she suffered from restrictive cardiomyopathy, and they ... read article
Story highlights Launched in July 2017, the UCLA Health Extensivist Program provides care for more than 400 complex patients. The program is set to expand to UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica and outlying communities in 2019. A new program launched last year by the UCLA Department of Medicine is helping patients at high risk for hospitalization ... read article
UCLA interventional cardiologist Olcay Aksoy, MD, FACC, discusses how transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the treatment of patients with aortic stenosis. Watch webinar »
UCLA cardiologist Jamil Aboulhosn, MD, discusses the prevalence and impact of congenital heart disease (heart disease from birth). He will also discuss some of the surgical and medical advances that have facilitated improvements in survival and quality of life for this population. Watch webinar »
UCLA cardiologist Marcella Calfon Press, MD, co-director of the UCLA Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Health Program, offers insight into the role of gender in heart disease and discusses managing risk factors. Watch webinar »
UCLA cardiologist William Suh, MD, talks about the transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure, which can treat severe aortic stenosis without open heart surgery. He will review clinical trial data, indications for the procedure, and patient selection criteria. Watch webinar »
Karol Watson, MD, co-director, UCLA Program in Preventive Cardiology, discusses tips to keep your heart healthy and live a healthier life, as well as hidden threats to heart health and the latest news in heart research. Watch webinar »