Local Cardiologist Explains the Heart's Complex Makeup

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published March 4, 2009 at 7:54 AM PST

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

The human heart is a complex organ. San Diego cardiologist Dr. Mimi Guarneri has been unlocking the mysteries of the heart to see how stress, anger and other emotions, as well as diet and lifestyle,

Maureen Cavanaugh : Whether it's time for a heart-to-heart with a good friend, or you're downhearted about some bad news, we probably talk more about our hearts in casual conversation than any other part of the body. So, at least in popular culture, most of us already consider our hearts to be more than just a big beating muscle.

It may warm your heart to know some cardiac specialists now see it that way too. The view of the heart as a complex organ, influenced as much by how well we live as by what we eat, is part of many ancient healing traditions and is now part of an integrative approach to cardiac care.

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Guest

Dr. Mimi Guarneri , co-founder and medical director of Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and author of "The Heart Speaks."