EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Heart Health Month

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

In recognition of Heart Health Month, we’re spotlighting the importance of cardiovascular wellness. From risk factors and prevention to innovative treatments, we’re exploring the science and stories shaping heart health today.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 16-Dec-2025 04:16 ET (16-Dec-2025 09:16 GMT/UTC)

15-Sep-2025

Target: BP initiative helps more than 10M adults with hypertension

American Heart Association
Business Announcement

Nearly half of U.S. adults — 122.4 million people — are living with high blood pressure (BP), a leading preventable risk factor for heart disease, stroke and premature death, according to the 2025 American Heart Association Statistical Update.

15-Sep-2025

Mount Sinai launches cardiac catheterization artificial intelligence research lab

The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Business Announcement

New AI research lab at The Mount Sinai Hospital aims to transform patient care for complex heart procedures

15-Sep-2025

Artificial protein mimicking elastin aids tissue regeneration

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Joint research team from POSTECH and Inha University Develops Next-Generation Biomaterials for Treating Heart Valves, Blood Vessels, and Ligaments.

Journal: Acta Biomaterialia

9-Sep-2025

Carlos Collet, MD, Ph.D., joins CRF® as director, cardiovascular imaging, physiology and translational therapeutics

Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Business Announcement

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation^® (CRF^®) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Carlos Collet as Director, Cardiovascular Imaging, Physiology and Translational Therapeutics. A globally recognized interventional cardiologist and imaging expert, Dr. Collet will spearhead efforts to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge research into clinical practice, elevate CRF^®’s academic contributions, and expand its global leadership in cardiovascular education. His work will unify translational science, technological innovation, and education to advance CRF^®’s mission.

8-Sep-2025

Flying lifesavers: Drones could soon respond to cardiac arrests

University of Warwick
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In the UK there are more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) annually, but fewer than 10% of people survive. Early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restart the heart can at least double the chance of survival. AEDs are safe for the public to use, even without training, but it can be difficult for bystanders to locate and retrieve one quickly during an emergency.

Journal: Resuscitation Plus
Funder: National Institute for Health Research, Health and Care Research Wales

8-Sep-2025

Developing a novel drug for acute myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, and subsequent chronic organ failure

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Despite advances in life-saving treatments, acute myocardial infarction and acute kidney injury often progress to chronic heart and kidney failure, respectively. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have identified a critical role of macrophages and neutrophils in these processes and successfully developed a novel drug that demonstrated efficacy in mouse models.

Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation

4-Sep-2025

Intense light therapy may lower risk of myocardial injuries after non-cardiac surgery

University of Colorado Anschutz
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Intense light therapy after surgery can increase a critical protein that protects heart tissue while lowering levels of troponin, a protein indicating heart damage that’s linked to higher mortality in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, according to a study by researchers at CU Anschutz.

Journal: Annals of Translational Medicine

4-Sep-2025

Researchers identify gene associated with deadly heart disease in golden retrievers

North Carolina State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have discovered the first genetic mutation associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and sudden death in golden retrievers. The work could lead to increased early detection and disease prevention for the breed while further shaping our understanding of the disease in humans.

Journal: Circulation Genomic and Precision Medicine

3-Sep-2025

Living in a food desert doubles stroke risk for patients with atrial fibrillation, study finds

Tulane University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Patients with atrial fibrillation who live in neighborhoods with poor access to grocery stores face sharply higher odds of stroke and death, according to a new study from Tulane University. Compared with similar patients in better-served areas, those in food deserts had more than double the risk of ischemic stroke and nearly four times the risk of death.

Journal: JACC Advances

3-Sep-2025

Hurricane Sandy linked to lasting heart disease risk in elderly

Weill Cornell Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The study, published Sept. 3 in JAMA Network Open, found that older adults living in flood-hit areas in New Jersey faced a 5% higher risk of heart disease for up to five years after Sandy’s landfall. This is one of the first studies to rigorously quantify long-term cardiovascular risks associated with flooding in older adults. Most studies focus on the immediate consequences of severe weather events.

Journal: JAMA Network Open