Our mission is to empower individuals with valuable, understandable heart health information, complementing professional guidance. We offer unique perspectives, providing approachable content to support your search for online resources on preventing or managing heart disease. While we provide reliable resources, collaboration with healthcare professionals is key for optimal heart health.
Empowerment
Starts with
Education
Our goal is to empower you through knowledge. Here, you’ll find clear explanations, practical tips, and the latest insights in cardiovascular care, all designed to help you make confident and informed decisions about your heart health.
From understanding common conditions and treatments to exploring lifestyle strategies and emerging research, we hope our platforms across the web and YouTube will be a trusted source in navigating the complexities of cardiovascular health with your treating team.
Explore. Learn. Take charge of your heart health with us.
Prof. Peter Barlis
Cardiologist & Founding Editor
Our Mission
Proven Expertise
Heart Matters is led by Professor Peter Barlis, an internationally recognised cardiologist. As the platform’s editor, he brings over two decades of clinical and academic expertise to ensure our content is grounded in evidence and presented in a way that’s clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand.
Think Different
At Heart Matters, we’re redefining what online heart health resources can be. Our mission is to make complex medical topics easier to understand and to remove the confusion that often surrounds cardiovascular information. Through a clear, user-friendly approach, we offer reliable, accessible content that empowers you to take charge of your heart health. This is complemented by our easy-to-follow videos on YouTube, where we bring key topics to life in a visual and engaging way. Join us as we reshape how heart health is understood and shared online.
Why Heart Matters
At Heart Matters, we go beyond being an information source – we share knowledge with genuine care. Empowering you with comprehensive, easy-to-understand insights.
Up-to-Date
Stay informed with our up-to-date heart health insights. We cut jargon, providing empowering information for your cardiovascular well-being. Discover reliable resources that speak heart to heart, offering updated and accessible information.
Clear & Concise
Our blog articles have simplicity in mind, helping you understand key concepts. Stay updated with reliable information that speaks directly to you, empowering informed decisions about heart health.
A Trusted Guide
We strive to offer dependable and updated insights, cutting through complex terminology to communicate effectively with you. Explore the advantages of reliable guidance that provides a clear perspective, supporting your journey towards knowledge and understanding.
Selected Publications
Explore a curated collection of key publications from our research group, featuring peer-reviewed journals and authoritative textbooks trusted by interventional cardiologists worldwide. Our vast experience in the field of heart health guarantees access to valuable insights and knowledge, empowering you to enhance your cardiovascular understanding.
third edition, wiley publishing
Textbook of interventional cardiology
"Interventional Cardiology: Principles & Practice" is a leading textbook edited by Peter Barlis alongside other renowned interventional cardiologists, such as George Dangas from Mount Sinai New York, Carlo Di Mario from the University of Florence, and Holger Thiele from Germany's Leipzig Heart Centre. The book is published by Wiley Publishing and is currently in its third edition. Peter's vast experience and knowledge in the field of interventional cardiology have made him a respected authority, and his contributions to the book ensure that it remains a definitive resource for interventional cardiologists worldwide.
The book is intended for practicing interventional cardiologists, cardiology fellows, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with cardiovascular disease. It provides a detailed and practical overview of the field, with a focus on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care.
free full-text available
PhD thesis
Peter completed his PhD on the use of a novel imaging method to better examine coronary artery plaque and the optimal method of assessing heart stents. His thesis was published in 2009, following his studies at the Thoraxcenter in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK. Peter's work on the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been published worldwide and has contributed significantly to the field of interventional cardiology.
Peter's research on OCT has been particularly important in improving our understanding of coronary artery disease and developing better methods for assessing stents. He was the first cardiologist in Australia to introduce OCT to the country, and he has since pioneered and mentored many other centers in its use.
Overall, Peter's PhD thesis represents a significant contribution to the field of interventional cardiology, and his work on OCT has had a profound impact on our ability to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.
Book launching Dec 2025!
Heart stents: what you need to know
Drawing from extensive experience in interventional cardiology, Peter Barlis offers valuable insights on stent procedures, from preparation to surgery and recovery. This comprehensive e-book is an indispensable resource for individuals undergoing or researching heart stents. It serves as a trusted reference for interventional cardiologists, fellows, and healthcare professionals, empowering patients with accessible knowledge and fostering engagement.
Nature Reviews Cardiology article
Optical coherence tomography
The article provides a review of the state-of-the-art in cardiac optical coherence tomography (OCT) and its application in coronary atherosclerosis research and clinical practice. Over the past two decades, OCT has been widely adopted for percutaneous coronary intervention optimization and has seen significant advances in understanding in vivo vascular biology in the past decade. The article highlights the need for accurate interpretation and understanding of OCT findings for appropriate use, and aims to serve as a standard reference for future research and clinical application. The review draws on contributions from experienced clinicians and investigators worldwide, who have made substantial contributions to OCT research in cardiac imaging
nature Scientific Reports
Computational modelling
Endothelial shear stress (ESS) plays a key role in the clinical outcomes in native and stented segments; however, their implications in bypass grafts and especially in a synthetic biorestorative coronary artery bypass graft are yet unclear. This report aims to examine the interplay between ESS and the morphological alterations of a biorestorative coronary bypass graft in an animal model. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis in this report provided sophisticated physiological information that complements the anatomic assessment from imaging enabling a complete understanding of biorestorative graft pathophysiology.
European Heart journal
World-first new technology
Most invasive coronary imaging modalities only provide anatomical information from which physiologic significance is inferred. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and other physiologic indices of lesion severity are more reliable methods to identify physiologically significant lesions. Currently, accomplishing both anatomic and physiologic interrogation of an intermediate coronary stenosis requires the use of multiple devices within the coronary artery. This report highlights a breakthrough method using cardiac imaging and sophisticated engineering models to predict coronary artery disease severity led by Prof. Barlis and his research team.
Our Youtube Channel
Discover our Heart Matters YouTube channel, where we bring heart health to life. From explaining common conditions and symptoms to discussing the latest research, our engaging videos simplify complex topics, ensuring you have access to valuable knowledge for a healthier heart. Subscribe now and embark on a journey of education, empowerment, and inspiration.
Author
other anti-anginals
When first-line therapies for angina, such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitrates, prove inadequate or are not well-tolerated, second-line therapies may be considered.
Perhexiline is a unique medication that enhances the heart's ability to utilize fatty acids for energy, reducing its reliance on oxygen and lowering oxygen demand. This action helps improve blood flow and alleviates chest pain in some patients with refractory angina.
Nicorandil is another second-line option with a dual mechanism of action. It opens potassium channels in smooth muscle cells, causing vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Additionally, nicorandil also stimulates nitric oxide release, further dilating blood vessels and reducing heart workload.
Trimetazidine is an anti-ischemic agent that improves cardiac efficiency by enhancing glucose metabolism and shifting the heart's energy production to a more oxygen-efficient process. As second-line therapies, these medications offer alternative approaches for managing angina in individuals who do not respond adequately to first-line treatments or those experiencing side effects from other medications.
lipid lowering therapies
Lipid-lowering therapies play a critical role in managing coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition characterized by the narrowing of blood vessels that supply the heart. Among the most commonly discussed and debated classes of medications are statins, which effectively reduce cholesterol levels and are widely prescribed to lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Alongside statins, other medications like ezetimibe, fibrates, and niacin are also utilized to target specific aspects of lipid metabolism, such as cholesterol absorption, triglyceride levels, and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Additionally, the introduction of medications that inhibit PCSK9, an enzyme involved in cholesterol metabolism, has provided a promising new approach to further lower LDL cholesterol levels. These PCSK9 inhibitors, such as Repatha (evolocumab), have shown significant efficacy in reducing LDL cholesterol levels in patients with CAD, especially for those who may not respond well to traditional therapies.
Nitrates
Nitrates are widely used to treat angina and provide quick relief for chest pain. Commonly available in the form of sublingual sprays or tablets, patches, and long-acting tablets, nitrates work by dilating blood vessels, allowing for increased blood flow and reduced resistance. This dilation eases the heart's workload, leading to a decreased demand for oxygen and prompt alleviation of angina symptoms. Sublingual nitrates act rapidly and are often used to provide immediate relief during angina attacks, while patches and long-acting tablets are employed for preventive purposes. However, nitrates may cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and flushing, which usually subside over time.
calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers, including amlodipine, felodipine, cardizem (diltiazem), and verapamil, are commonly prescribed for the treatment of angina. These medications work by inhibiting the influx of calcium into the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, leading to their relaxation. As a result, blood vessels widen, promoting improved blood flow and reduced blood pressure. In the context of angina, this relaxation decreases the heart's workload, lowering the demand for oxygen and alleviating chest pain. Calcium channel blockers offer a valuable treatment option for individuals with angina, but it is essential to be aware of potential side effects, which may include headaches, dizziness, flushing, and ankle swelling.
Beta blockers
Beta blockers, such as metoprolol, propranolol, atenolol, carvedilol, and bisoprolol, play a crucial role in treating angina. By blocking certain receptors in the heart, they effectively reduce heart rate and the force of contraction, thereby easing the heart's workload. This mechanism of action leads to a decreased demand for oxygen, making beta blockers highly effective in relieving chest pain associated with angina. As with any medication, it's important to consider potential side effects, including tiredness, worsened asthma, erectile dysfunction in some males, and more vivid dreams during sleep. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the suitability of beta blockers for managing your angina and overall heart health.
Anti-platelet medications play a crucial role in preventing blood clot formation, reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Among the widely used anti-platelet drugs are aspirin, clopidogrel, and ticagrelor.
Aspirin: This well-known medication inhibits platelet activation, making it less likely for platelets to stick together and form clots. Aspirin is commonly used for primary and secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
Clopidogrel: As a potent anti-platelet agent, clopidogrel works by blocking specific receptors on platelets, preventing them from aggregating. It is often prescribed to patients with acute coronary syndrome, those undergoing stent procedures, and for some cases of peripheral arterial disease.
Ticagrelor: Ticagrelor is another effective anti-platelet drug that works by inhibiting platelet activation. It is used in acute coronary syndrome, often given alongside aspirin to reduce the risk of heart-related events.