cardiovascular (heart) disease

September 23, 2025

Scenes from the Greater Nashville Heart Walk

The event, which featured more than 50 teams from VUMC, raises awareness and funds for research, advocacy and CPR training to combat heart disease and stroke.

By Erin O. Smith and Matt Batcheldor
June 16, 2025

From stadium to stents, quick response saves soccer fan

When her evening pivoted from cheering for Nashville Soccer Club to suffering a heart attack, well-coordinated teams kept Leigh Anne Clark’s heart and life safe.

By Jill Clendening
June 4, 2025

VUMC team finds potential target to slow atherosclerosis

The research findings suggest that regulating the immune response to high cholesterol through the protein CaMK4 could enhance blood vessel repair and slow atherosclerosis progression.

By Guillermo Sanchez, PhD
March 12, 2025

Potential therapeutic for Duchenne muscular dystrophy takes step forward

Positive findings from a clinical trial support further study of the investigational drug ifetroban to treat cardiac complications, the leading cause of death in patients with DMD.

By Leigh MacMillan
October 21, 2024

Clue to salt-sensitive blood pressure found

Despite the well-established link between high salt intake and cardiovascular disease and stroke, the mechanism of SSBP is poorly understood, and it remains an untreatable cardiovascular risk with no widely available diagnostic tool.

By Bill Snyder
September 9, 2024

High-sensitivity test expected to expedite heart attack diagnosis and treatment

At Vanderbilt University Hospital, there are approximately 75,000 adult emergency department visits a year, and approximately 20% of all ED patients receive a cardiac troponin test as part of their initial evaluation. The new cardiac troponin test is more precise and provides results faster.

By Jill Clendening
August 20, 2024

VUMC participating in clinical trial of novel heart failure treatment  

Patients with a form of heart failure called HFpEF may breathe normally at rest but quickly become breathless with physical activity. The study will test an atrial shunt to relieve high pressure in the heart.
By Craig Boerner
August 14, 2024

Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care

The Stroke Silver award recognizes hospitals that provide proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and lifesaving care.
August 13, 2024

$3.4 million research grant targets risk of heart attack, stroke

Making innovative use of observational data, researchers hope to gain new understanding of patient risk and identify existing drugs to lower risk.
By Paul Govern
August 7, 2024

Program arranges genetic testing for AFib patients who may be at risk for inherited cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia syndromes

Without treatment, younger patients may develop other serious cardiac disorders such as heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
By Matt Batcheldor
June 4, 2024

Research raises hope for treating potentially lethal blood condition

Roughly 1 in 10 people over age 70 will develop CHIP, an explosive, clonal growth of abnormal blood cells that increases risk of blood cancers and death from cardiovascular, lung and liver disease.
By Bill Snyder
May 31, 2024

VUMC-led team reports potential new way to stimulate weight loss

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System have demonstrated in a small clinical study that “turning up the heat” on fat may help people lose weight and reduce their risk of obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
By Bill Snyder
April 30, 2024

Atherosclerosis is a tumor-like disease: study

An anticancer drug blunted atherosclerosis progression — and even made plaques shrink — in a mouse model of the disease, opening new opportunities for preventing and treating this leading cause of death.
By Leigh MacMillan
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