Talks to discuss the links between the health of hearts and minds

What does meditation have to do with the heart and how are stressful events linked to abnormal heart rhythms? These topics are to be discussed at the upcoming Let’s Talk Hearts event hosted by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) on Tuesday 15th March 2016.

Let’s Talk Hearts is part of a series of talks, open to all, providing a forum to learn about heart conditions, how (and why) you should keep your heart healthy, and the latest research on cardiovascular health.

Malcolm Finlay, a Consultant Cardiologist and Lecturer at QMUL, will present his talk ‘The Brain, The Heart and Voodoo death’ which looks into how mental stress can be really bad for you. One in 20 of us will experience a heart rhythm problem during our lives and there’s a wealth of evidence linking stressful events with the most serious forms of abnormal heart rhythms, taking in voodoo death, world cup football and SCUD missile attacks, as well as more everyday anger and shock. Malcolm will share the tales of discovery of these links, and how science is catching up with the mechanisms behind them.

Richard Ang, from Barts Health Trust, will also be presenting his interactive talk ‘Zen and the Heart’ which explores what meditation has to do with the heart. The answer may provide the key for new treatments for heart disease. He will demonstrate this live with a cardiac monitor and getting a member of audience to inhale and exhale in a slow regulated manner and see the change in heart rate live.

Let’s talk hearts is aimed at anyone with an interest in heart conditions.