Welcome to Our Newest Staff Member

We would like to welcome Marcela Matallana, our new Director of Development and Multicultural Affairs, to the Florida Heart family.  Marcela has been in media for over 9 years developing marketing and sales strategies for some of the biggest media companies in the country including CBS TV, Spanish Broadcasting Systems and most recently Beasley Broadcast Group.  Marcela will oversee the development of new fundraising opportunities and partnerships as well as our initiative to expand across the State.  For inquiries she can be reached at marcela@floridaheart.org.

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On Weight & Blood Pressure: A Population Study at FHRI 

Hypertension (high blood pressure) has long been recognized as a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.  Weight gain is almost invariably associated with increased blood pressure; it poses a major challenge to the health of Americans.  As the problem of obesity has spread, it has been increasingly recognized as a threat worldwide.  Prior to our research, the link between obesity and hypertension had been shown in many ethnic populations, but it had not been documented in an ethnic diverse Hispanic population.  We therefore examined the relationship between overweight status, obesity and hypertension in the unique Caribbean, Central and South American Hispanic population of Miami and compared it with the local population of non-Hispanic whites.

Florida Heart Research Institute used data collected in cardiovascular risk factor screenings conducted in-house on adults over the course of 12 years.  The sample included 4,234 Hispanic men and women and 2,712 non-Hispanic white men and women.  We found that increasing weight was strongly associated with hypertension in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic white men and women of all ages.  As weight increased from "normal" to "overweight" to "obese", the percentage of people with high blood pressure increased for all groups.  

This study shows the importance of instituting effective heath promotion programs in Miami targeting weight control to prevent the development of hypertension.

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Research on Diseases of the Heart Muscle

With support from Florida Heart Research Institute, Dr. Jose Pinto, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Florida State University College of Medicine, is applying his expertise in muscle biochemistry to study two  inherited heart diseases.  His projects are conducted in animal models.  They will enable scientists to further understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of inherited hypertropic and dilated cardiomyopathies in humans.  These inherited diseases can appear as early as birth. 

Hypertropic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that affects 1 in 500 individuals.  It is characterized by thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart muscle.  Dilated cardiomyopathy affects 1 in 2,500 individuals and is characterized by thinner muscle heart walls.  Both diseases can impair the ability of the heart to pump blood and can cause abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which may be life threatening and cause sudden death.  A small number of individuals will develop potentially fatal heart failure that may require heart transplantation.  

Dr. Pinto has developed strains of laboratory mice that mirror these conditions in humans. By using these animal models Dr. Pinto has been able to identify special proteins and calcium sensors that mark these diseases of the heart muscle. 

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Heartthrob Returns

Starting this month, back by popular demand, we are kicking off our "Heartthrob" Meet-Ups.  These will be a great opportunity to meet local executives, entrepreneurs and business owners in a relaxed environment at some of the hottest new venues throughout South Florida. The meet-ups will include special guest speakers, product launches, wine tastings and networking opportunities.

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