Heart and Mind Clinic

Beijing United Family Hospital’s new Heart and Mind clinic is led by renowned cardiologist and professor Dr. Hu Dayi, with the goal of providing people with heart disease the most comprehensive and effective methods of treatment available. At the Heart and Mind Clinic, a team of licensed clinical psychologists works alongside our cardiologists to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions, which are often linked to psychological stress. The Heart and Mind Clinic allows patients to receive psychotherapeutic counseling along with standard treatment for cardiovascular disease.

What is the Heart and Mind Clinic?

From a clinical perspective, cardiovascular disease and psychological distress often coexist. The body and the mind are one connected system, and psychological stress produces real, chemical effects on the body. It is therefore crucial to evaluate all factors that influence cardiovascular health.

With advances in medicine, medical experts have found a strong link between heart disease and psychological factors. Psychological stress has been determined to play a large role in the development of heart disease. Patients experiencing symptoms of heart disease are often actually experiencing a physical manifestation of psychological stress. Mild heart conditions may actually worsen due to the psychological burden and physical effects of worrying about the disease. Patients must not only receive an accurate diagnosis but also to learn how to manage stress effectively. At the Heart and Mind Clinic, a cardiologist and a psychologist provide a joint physical and psychological evaluation during the consultation process to determine the most effective treatment strategy for each patient.

This pioneering initiative for an integrated Heart and Mind Clinic is led by Dr. Hu Dayi, with the goal of providing people dealing with heart disease with the most comprehensive and effective methods of treatment available.

Who should come to the Heart and Mind Clinic?

• Patients who have not yet received a diagnosis but who have symptoms of heart disease such as chest tightness, angina (chest pain), heart palpitations, racing heart, shortness of breath, or weakness.
• Patients with ventricular premature heartbeat or slightly abnormal ST segment findings on an ECG, people without serious heart disease but who still have serious symptoms, such as chest tightness, angina (chest pain), heart palpitations, or rapid heartbeat, and patients for whom clinical treatment has not been effective.
• Patients who have already received a diagnosis (coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy) accompanied by symptoms of anxiety, depression, or fear about their condition.