[Hadassah On Call] In Sync: Heart & Gut

The hip bone’s connected to the backbone. The backbone's connected to the neck bone…

The gut is connected to the heart?

Not literally. But yes.

According to this month’s guest, Dr. Rabea Asleh, director of the Heart Failure Unit & Cardiovascular Research Center at the Hadassah Medical Organization, gut microbiota, comprising bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes, influence our immune function and cardiovascular health.

Some metabolites produced by gut microbiota can be beneficial for reducing inflammation, yet others can be harmful by inducing inflammation, atherosclerosis and heart failure.

Dr. Asleh talks about HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction), which is common in older populations, especially women, due to factors such as obesity and hypertension. Affecting the heart’s filling pressure, it causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, low energy and edema. Fifty percent of the population suffering from heart failure have this disease.

Researchers at Hadassah are using mice and fecal microbiota transplantation to understand and try to treat HFpFF.

Tune in to learn more about management of HFpEF, impact of diet on the heart, personalized medicine and more.