Tips for Caregivers to Maximize a Child’s Heart Health for a Lifetime
Tips for Caregivers to Maximize a Child’s Heart Health for a Lifetime
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Corrigan Minehan Heart Center
Contact Us
Corrigan Minehan Heart Center
55 Fruit Street
Boston,
MA
02114
Phone: 866-644-8910
Email: mghheartcenter@partners.org
The Cardiovascular Genetics Program at Massachusetts General Hospital provides comprehensive cardiovascular evaluations, genetic counseling, genetic testing and individualized treatment plans for patients at risk for inherited cardiovascular conditions. We take a multidisciplinary approach to care, leveraging the diverse cardiac expertise of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, and breadth of knowledge and resources across Mass General.
Our program includes several sub-specialty clinics with experts dedicated to specific cardiovascular disease areas:
Although lifestyle factors put a person at risk for heart disease, genetic predispositions may also play a large role in a person’s risk of developing a cardiac condition. Clinical and genetic screenings of patients and their family members, interpretation of test results and personalized treatment strategies can help patients live longer, healthier lives. It is important for patients to speak with their physician about the availability of genetic counseling and testing, especially if they have a family history of cardiac conditions.
We recommend family screening and genetic counseling for the following conditions:
Our specialists also offer clinical or genetic screening for many forms of the following conditions:
The Familial Aortic Disease Clinic, located within the Mass General Thoracic Aortic Center and affiliated with the Cardiovascular Genetics Program, provides specialized care for individuals with suspected or diagnosed inherited conditions causing aortic disease.
To diagnose familial aortic disease, our team uses physical examination, cardiovascular imaging and molecular genetic testing. Proper treatment requires accurate genetic evaluation as medical and surgical decision-making is increasingly driven by genetic diagnosis.
We specialize in treating numerous conditions, including those listed below. It is important to note that patients may experience these conditions very differently. You should speak with your cardiologist at Mass General about your particular condition to learn about a personalized treatment approach.
Our experts are skilled in noninvasive evaluation of genetically triggered thoracic aortic disease.
Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a common cardiovascular condition caused by weakening of the wall of the aorta (the largest artery in the body) which is responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
This weakening can lead to an abnormal enlargement (aortic dilation), which produces a risk of tear or “dissection”. Aortic dissection is life threatening since it can affect blood flow to vital organs, such as the heart, brain, limbs or kidneys. Abdominal aortic aneurysm, the most common aortic disease in humans, is often associated with risk factors similar to those associated with heart attack, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes.
In contrast, thoracic aortic aneurysm is more commonly related to dysfunction of a single gene, which can sometimes be associated with an underlying syndrome that can be inherited in families.
We work with patients to recommend options to diagnose and treat thoracic aortic disease. These options may include: genetic testing, medical management, noninvasive cardiovascular imaging, advanced cardiovascular biomarker testing or cardiac surgery.
The Mass General Familial Aortic Disease Clinic is structured to provide patients with comprehensive and informative care. The clinic is directed by Eric Isselbacher, MD and Mark E. Lindsay, MD, PhD, who also conducts leading-edge scientific cardiovascular research at Mass General. Our clinicians are faculty of Harvard Medical School and are committed to providing expert care and establishing new best practices for the treatment and prevention of aortic dissection.
Our comprehensive care includes:
The Arrhythmia Genetics Clinic, part of the Massachusetts General Hospital Corrigan Minehan Heart Center and affiliated with the Cardiovascular Genetics Program, provides specialized care for individuals with suspected or diagnosed genetic conditions that may increase the risk of heart rhythm disturbances, known as arrhythmias.
Under the Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiovascular Genetics Program, the Atherosclerosis Genetics Clinic provides specialized care for individuals and families with suspected or established inherited conditions causing or predisposing them to premature heart attacks.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and is the result of both genetic and environmental factors. Individuals or those with first-degree relatives who experienced premature heart attacks (men younger than 55 or women younger than 65) are often suspected to have strong genetic factors contributing to heart attack risk.
Abnormal cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, may or may not be present in such individuals. Additionally, individuals with abnormal cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol, that do not respond to traditional therapies, may be candidates for advanced testing and therapies, including PCSK9 inhibitors (a new class of drugs shown to dramatically lower LDL cholesterol levels).
Our specialists provide multidisciplinary care that includes comprehensive cardiovascular examination and counseling to diagnose and manage both predisposing genetic and environmental/lifestyle factors. Our team comprises nurses, genetic counselors, nutritionists and medical assistants specialized in managing individuals at particularly high risk for sustaining a first or recurrent heart attack.
Among the conditions we specialize in treating are:
Our experts at the Mass General Corrigan Minehan Heart Center are skilled both in noninvasive and invasive therapies that may be necessary for the management of patients at notably high risk for heart attack. Treatments may include genetic testing, medical management (including PCSK9 inhibitors), nutrition counseling, mobile fitness tracking, noninvasive cardiovascular imaging testing, advanced cardiovascular biomarker testing, coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary interventions, cardiac surgery or other options.
The Atherosclerosis Genetics Clinic at the Mass General Hospital Corrigan Minehan Heart Center is structured to provide patients with comprehensive and informative care. The Atherosclerosis Genetics Clinic is directed by Pradeep Natarajan, MD, who conducts leading-edge scientific cardiovascular genetics research. Our clinicians are faculty of the Harvard Medical School, and are committed both to providing expert care and establishing new best practices for the treatment and prevention of heart attacks.
Our comprehensive care includes:
The Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiovascular Genetics Program offers clinical genetic counseling services for patients at risk for inherited cardiovascular conditions. Our certified genetic counselor meets with patients and their family members to:
Genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. This process integrates:
For more information about the practice of genetic counseling, visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors
We will typically begin the appointment by reviewing your medical and family history in detail. Please obtain as much information as possible about your family’s health history ahead of time and bring it with you to your appointment. Our genetic counselor will use this information to provide you with information about the natural history of genetic cardiovascular conditions, inheritance patterns and potential risks for other family members. When indicated, the genetic counselor will guide you through options for genetic testing and explain how the possible results may impact your treatment or screening recommendations.
In some cases, genetic testing for inherited cardiac conditions can help clarify a diagnosis, direct treatment or screening guidelines, or provide useful information about the likelihood that your family members may be affected by the same condition. Genetic testing typically involves obtaining a blood sample, which is sent to a laboratory for DNA analysis.
Since the results of genetic testing can often have a significant impact on other family members, our genetic counselor is available to explain the results in detail and discuss how you and your family members may be affected by this information.
Our team of highly skilled specialists work with you and your family to treat cardiovascular disease.
Christopher Newton-Cheh, MD, MPH
Stephanie Harris, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor
Eugene Wong, MSc, CGC
Genetic Counselor
Courtney Leonard
Genetic Counseling Assistant
Mass General is dedicated to ensuring that patients and their family members have accurate and comprehensive information so they can make informed decisions about their health care. We are also devoted to providing educational and support resources to help families understand and cope with a diagnosis.
Please explore the links below for more information about inherited cardiovascular conditions.
Our physicians welcome second opinion appointments to review cases and proposed lines of treatment.
Tips for Caregivers to Maximize a Child’s Heart Health for a Lifetime
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