Protect Your Health
Learn about health conditions, how to find a doctor, questions to ask your doctor and other resources and support to protect your health.
Diversity in clinical trials matters
Women and minority clinical trial volunteers are needed in order to create meaningful medical research that applies to people of all backgrounds.
Funding to increase diversity
If you’re part of a nonprofit working to identify health disparities or to increase health equality in your community, we invite you to apply for a Boston Scientific Close the Gap grant.
Make a commitment to your health
Get knowledge and insight about certain conditions and find Boston Scientific resources to help you and your loved ones understand treatment options.
Need a Doctor You Can Trust?
They’re out there, and we have a tool to help you find them.
Get a Ride
Ask your provider about booking you a ride to a future appointment. Medicaid and Medicare provide nonemergency medical transportation benefits, and you may qualify for rides with Uber Health or Lyft.
Our Partners
To reach people at heightened risk for certain diseases like heart disease, we partner with national patient advocacy organizations and minority associations that share our passion for connecting people to resources to access quality care.
Association of Black Cardiologists
Works to promote the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in Blacks and other minorities and to achieve health equity. Their partnership with Close the Gap focuses on four pilot programs in various cities at hospitals in the Association’s network.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Aims to is to advance the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public, including promoting public health..
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Advocates for issues important to Hispanics through the Congressional legislative process.
Common Medical Terms
Here are some words you may hear when learning more about your heart health.
Artery: A blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib): In AFib, the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat rapidly and irregularly (fibrillate). This can cause blood to pool and form clots in an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage.
Cardiologist: A physician who specializes in treating diseases and disorders impacting the heart.
Cardiovascular disease: Can refer to a number of conditions, including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia and heart valve problems.
Coronary artery disease (CAD): CAD happens when plaque builds up on the inner walls of your coronary arteries. This causes the arteries to harden and narrow, which decreases blood flow to your heart. In some cases, it can lead to a heart attack.
Critical limb ischemia (CLI): This is the most severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD). It occurs when the blood vessels supplying blood to the lower leg, foot and toes becomes blocked with the same fatty material (plaque) that causes heart attacks. If left untreated, it often results in amputation.
Electrophysiologist: Physicians who have advanced training in treating issues related to the heart’s electrical system, like heart arrhythmias.
Extremities: This refers to the arms, hands, feet and legs.
Health equity: This means that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full health potential, and that no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances.
Heart attack: When the blood supply to your heart muscle is blocked and a portion of the heart muscle dies.
Heart failure: A common, yet serious condition that despite its name, it doesn’t mean that your heart will suddenly stop working. Instead, heart failure develops slowly as the heart muscle gradually weaken.
Interventional cardiologist: A physician trained in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease and structural heart conditions through minimally invasive catheter-based procedures.
Interventional radiologist: A doctor who can interpret medical images and perform minimally invasive surgical procedures through small incisions in the body.
Occlusion: As it relates to medical terms, this means when something, such as a blood vessel, is blocked or closed off.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD): PAD is when the blood vessels in areas outside your heart become blocked. This serious circulation problem can affect arms but is most commonly found in the legs.
Physician: A person who has received necessary training in order to become certified to practice medicine.
Plaque: Fatty material that forms within in blood vessels and that can cause blockages.
Podiatrist: A doctor who specializes in treating disorders and injuries to the foot, ankle and parts of the leg.
Revascularization: A medical procedure that is used to restore blood flow to specific organs or tissues.
Stent: An expandable metal tube that supports the vessel wall and maintains blood flow through the opened vessel.
Stroke: A stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain. Most strokes are caused by an abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain. Other strokes are caused by bleeding into brain tissue when a blood vessel bursts.
Thrombus: A clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to form a clot that can become lodged in a vessel and cause blockages.
Vascular surgeon: A physician who has been specifically trained to perform operations on blood vessels in order to re-establish blood flow to an impacted area of the body.
Vessel: In this reference, this is the general term describing arteries and veins within the vascular system, responsible for carrying blood throughout the body.