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For more than half a century, Lown Center physicians have been at the forefront of ground breaking developments in cardiology. Education and research remain primary activities and everything we learn about heart disease is reflected in the care we advocate. The goal of our research is to increase knowledge and constantly improve the quality of patient care.
The effect of psychological stress on the outcome of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major area of research at the Lown Center. In 1992 we first launched a study of coronary artery disease and have continued to follow a large group of our patients with CAD. This longstanding work continues to generate valuable and unique observations about the impact of depression, anxiety, and hostility on the risk of suffering a heart attack or requiring coronary bypass surgery.
Ongoing research activities include:
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Further exploration of the impact of psychological stress on the long term health of patients with CAD
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The impact of heart rate and quality of life of patients with atrial fibrillation
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Nutrition
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The potential for Tai Chi to improve the health of patients with heart failure.
To articulate how the Lown Model of Care has made a difference in the lives of so many of our patients and their families, we have embarked upon a project to share, collect, write and publish a series of anonymous clinical vignettes. We believe in doing more for the patient, while doing less to the patient, and have tried to practice an integrative approach to medicine. By continuing to reflect upon, publicize, and teach our approach, we believe that we can provide an oasis of compassionate care, and strengthen a vision of medicine that places the patients well-being above all else.
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