Program aims to raise awareness of integrated cardiac care

Mental health issues often have physical symptoms and that could not be clearer than when working with cardiac patients. It is a correlation that surprises no one. Distress can affect heart rate and blood pressure, which affects how the heart works. Faced with a life-changing diagnosis or the prospect of a life-threatening medical procedure, people often experience increased fear and anxiety, which can, in turn, affect medical outcomes. Yet, the relationship and how to best provide treatment is only now coming into focus. At Yale’s Vascular Medicine Outcomes (VAMOS) lab, Kim Smolderen, Ph.D., and her team have been working collaboratively wit...