UAB Medicine employees work together daily to save lives, and sometimes it’s for one of their own. This was the case with Joy Marsh, an administrative support specialist at the UAB Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Lab, who suffered a heart attack shortly after arriving at work in November 2023. Her coworkers helped transport her to the UAB Emergency Department, then a surgery and cardiology team inserted a tiny tube called a stent to reopen a section of artery that was 100% blocked.

February is American Heart Month, but heart health is important all year round. Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., a cardiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute, says making small lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of heart disease and the use of medications to regulate health.

In August of 1995, the Miley family found themselves in a hospital room celebrating the arrival of their newest addition, a baby girl named Brooke. A year later, the family was back in the hospital for a different reason. Brooke had restrictive cardiomyopathy, a life-threatening condition that the hospital could not treat. The Mississippi family […]

Small teams of UAB Medicine cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and nurses are making a positive difference in South America, where they volunteer to share their expertise in complex pediatric heart disease and defects with local doctors.

The holiday season can be a time filled with friends, family and, of course, holiday food and beverages. While it is perfectly fine to indulge in one’s favorite food and beverages this holiday season, it is best to avoid overindulging in these items, which can potentially lead to a condition known as holiday heart syndrome — also known as atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat that is associated with binge drinking. AFib caused by holiday heart syndrome can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and even heart attacks.

UAB Surgery’s Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy and UAB Medicine have become the first in the United States, and only the second institution in the world, to utilize LumiGuide, a second-generation 3D device guidance solution, that is powered by Fiber Optic RealShape (FORS) technology. This is an advanced internal device visualization solution utilizing light technology for navigation inside blood vessels without the use of fluoroscopy.

The study found that 70-75 percent of all participants, regardless of whether they were already on blood pressure medications or not, were likely to see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lowered the sodium in their diet.

UAB Medicine’s Cardio-Pulmonary Critical Care (CPCC) Unit has received a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) received the highest possible rating of three stars for its yearly participation in the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI).

It is possible to have a broken heart, though not in the way people typically think. While many people think of a broken heart on an emotional level, Gregory Chapman, M.D., a cardiologist in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute, says a broken heart can impact the body on a physical level, causing temporary cardiac episodes or, in rare cases, even death. 

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) published a study in Circulation showing that, among ventricular assist device recipients, patients with a particular form of dilated cardiomyopathy known as familial dilated cardiomyopathy have better clinical outcomes compared with other forms of the disease.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute has received four prestigious awards from the American Heart Association for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure through reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.