Art and the heart. New concepts in heart failure.

Artwork can remind us of important ideas in the practice of medicine. The portrait by John Singer Sargent entitled "Study of a Sicilian Peasant" reminds us of the dramatic effect a full head of hair has on one's appearance. The subject of the painting also has jugular venous distention. Interestingly, jugular venous distention has been used in artwork since Grecian times to demonstrate an impression of vitality; however, today, we know this as a sign of heart failure. Balding and heart failure are more common with aging. This contribution discusses why jugular venous distention is used by artists to reveal vitality and new concepts in recognizing subtle heart failure. The topic of heart failure is important for physicians who care for aging patients, especially those patients who suffer from hair loss and use low-dose oral minoxidil. Obviously, the subject of this painting suffers from neither issue; however, the painting brings to mind both.

Abstract from PubMed