Integrative Medicine Research

Research Interest

Studies have shown that stress, anxiety and depression can cause have a negative impact on health: decreasing the ability of our immune system to fight disease, making platelets more reactive, and affecting the normal regulation of our heart. This can make us more susceptible to disease, slow our recovery from illness or surgery, and accelerate the development of heart disease. A single, highly stressful experience is enough to damage the heart, inducing heart-failure like symptoms. For people who already have cardiovascular disease, an episode of acute stress can yield serious consequences, which can be fatal. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that psychological stress may increase the chances of death from Cardiovascular Disease by two to four times.

The magnitude of the effects the mind can have on health has prompted the need for further research to examine the mechanisms by which physiological and molecular changes caused by psychological stress occur within the body.

In our research, we are studying the way in which the brain responds to stress and communicates with immune cells, platelets, and the heart. In addition, we are also interested in finding effective methods that may help to reverse the negative effects of stress. In this effort, we are investigating mechanisms by which relaxation practices such as Yoga, Reiki and Meditation, affect the negative physiological responses to stress.

 

Current Research Projects

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funded Projects

Bakken Heart-Brain Institute Funded Project

 

Publications

Fox, J.E.B . (2001) Alternative Medicine in Coronary Disease. In: Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine (E.J. Topol, ed.) Lippincott-Raven Publishers. 4: 1-15.

Golubic, M. and Fox, J.E.B . (2004) Vitamins in coronary artery disease. In: Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease (Fuster, Nabel, Topol, eds.) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA. (299-319).

Hewson, H.G., Copeland, L.H., Mascha, E., Arrigain S., Topol, E., and Fox, J.E.B. (2006) Integration of complementary approaches into cardiology: an effective intervention for increasing physician acceptance. Patient Education and Counseling. 62:5-12.

 

Research Subjects Needed

We are currently looking for research subjects to participate in our studies. Please click on the corresponding links for more information:

 

For additional information
please call 216/445-3874 or toll free at 800/223-2273, ext. 53874