Cracking the Code: The OurHealth Study and How to Become Heart Attack Proof With Dr. Romit Bhattacharya

Sep 24, 2024

25:43

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South Asians are four times more likely to have heart attacks and six times more likely to have diabetes at a younger age, with fewer symptoms. It's a ticking time bomb that's gone largely unnoticed—until now.

Dr. Romit Bhattacharya, a Harvard-trained cardiologist, is on a mission to change that. He's spearheading the first-of-its-kind "Our Health Study" to uncover the complex interplay of genetics and lifestyle that puts South Asians at such high risk.

By recruiting participants from all across the U.S., Dr. Bhattacharya hopes to build one of the largest genetic cohorts of South Asians in the world. The goal? To identify genetic targets for personalized prevention and treatment strategies that could save countless lives.

Join Dr. Vikram Raya as together they explore the groundbreaking research that aims to rewrite the future of heart health for South Asians everywhere.

"Once we can identify the genetic target that we want to inhibit or block or augment, then we can go after it specifically, and we can learn."

- Dr. Romit Bhattacharya

In This Episode:

- Dr. Bhattacharya's journey into researching South Asian heart health

- Debunking myths - are South Asians just "lazy and gluttonous"?

- Key findings from previous studies like INTER-HEART and MASALA

- The U.K. Biobank study and the persistent risk despite lifestyle changes

- OurHealth Study - the fastest recruiting genetic cohort of South Asians

- How genetic insights can lead to targeted therapies and personalized interventions

- The importance of South Asian representation in clinical trials

- How to get involved with OurHealth Study and support its mission

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