| The ABCs of Coronary Heart Disease prevention | |
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| Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease |
The Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Center employs a multidisciplinary team of Cardiologists, an Endocrinologist and a Nurse Practitioner. We specialize in managing adults who are at high risk for future cardiovascular disease either because of the presence of multiple cardiac risk factors (e.g. hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, sedentary lifestyle, overweight status, etc) or a history of known cardiovascular or peripheral arterial disease.
The Preventive Cardiology Center's personalized, comprehensive approach to lifestyle and medical management can slow the progression of cardiovascular disease and decrease one's future risk of heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery or angioplasty. We also sponsor research that includes both clinical trials and basic molecular studies.
Clinical and Research Activities at the Center
The Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease is one of the fastest growing clinical programs at Johns Hopkins. Since its inception, our patient clinical services have grown at a steady pace.
The availability of specialized expertise provided by the physicians of the Center in Endocrinology (Dr. Golden) and Cardiology (Drs. Blumenthal, Post, Lowenstein, Irani and Gerstenblith) fosters a comprehensive approach to the management of patients. Experienced nurse practitioner health educators provide expertise in lifestyle counseling relating to all issues of preventive cardiology.
Of significant importance is the integration of this Center within the Johns Hopkins Division of Cardiology and Department of Medicine. Other factors that have helped in the growth of the Preventive Cardiology Center are:
- its presence in both the Hopkins Outpatient Center and in Johns Hopkins Heart Health in Timonium (excellent facilities designed to optimize patient care and accessibility);
- the growing interest of society in addressing health problems at an early stage, when prevention can markedly reduce the occurrence of heart attacks and the need for expensive procedures such as angioplasty or bypass surgery;
- the opening of the HeartSavers Electron Beam CT (EBCT) subclinical atherosclerosis assessment center adjacent to Hopkins Heart Health in Timonium.
- Patient Services at the Center
History of the Center
The Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins was initiated in 1989 through the efforts of Dr. Roger S. Blumenthal, (who was then a Fellow in the Division of Cardiology), in memory of his close friend, Henry Ciccarone. Mr. Ciccarone was a legendary athlete and lacrosse coach at Johns Hopkins, who died at age 50 after his third heart attack.
Dr. Blumenthal, together with Drs. Nicholas J. Fortuin and Myron Weisfeldt, gathered the friends and former players of Coach Ciccarone to raise funds for the development of a comprehensive program geared toward the prevention of coronary heart disease events. The Ciccarone Center sought to unite the proud traditions of Hopkins lacrosse and Hopkins Medicine.
The first director of the Center was Dr. Sid Gottlieb. In October 1991, Drs. Simeon Margolis and Pascal J. Goldschmidt were named Co-Directors of the Center. (Dr. Goldschmidt is now Dean at the University of Miami School of Medicine.) In January 1997 Dr. Blumenthal and Dr. Charles Lowenstein were named Co-Directors. In 2009, Dr. Lowenstein became Chief of Cardiology at University of Rochester.
Special Interests
One of our special interests is in individuals who develop cardiovascular disease before the age of 65. We have special expertise in the screening and management of asymptomatic family members of persons with premature atherosclerotic disease.
Our team often employs state-of-the-art testing to help identify factors contributing to heart disease clustering in families. We use the latest assessment techniques to measure lipoproteins (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) and apolipoproteins [Lp(a), apolipoproteins A-1 and B] as well as nontraditional risk factors such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), homocysteine and certain genetic polymorphisms for arterial thrombosis such as PLA-2 on the platelet glycoprotein receptor IIb/IIIa.
In asymptomatic adults with no history of cardiovascular disease, we may use an EBCT scan of the chest to measure the amount of coronary calcification. The presence of elevated coronary calcification (e.g. > 75th % for one's age and gender) or thickened carotid arteries is a sign of advanced coronary atherosclerosis for one's age, and this would likely trigger more aggressive attempts of comprehensive risk factor modification through both medication and lifestyle. After visiting with us at the Johns Hopkins Preventive Cardiology Center, we can tell the patient whether their management might be changed by some of the more sophisticated laboratory and diagnostic testing that we can provide.
Improving Lifestyle Habits
Our nurse health educators specialize in helping people to improve their lifestyle habits. They assist patients in following healthier diets, maintaining a prudent body weight, stopping cigarette smoking, maintaining a regular aerobic program, and helping patients cope better with stress. We also have an excellent cardiac rehabilitation program and a clinical exercise program at Johns Hopkins Heart Health that is run by Dr. Kerry Stewart and Sara Grabush in the MAC Wellness Center complex. We encourage individuals with known cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, or congestive heart failure to participate in a supervised exercise program.
The Preventive Cardiology section sees patients Tuesday through Friday at two convenient locations:
Hopkins Heart Health in Timonium
110 W. Timonium Road
410-308-7170
Tuesday through Friday
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
601 North Caroline Street
410-955-7376
Mondays and Thursdays
At each location we can perform exercise stress tests, treadmill stress echo tests, echo Doppler tests, EKG's, Holter monitors and coronary calcium scans.
Research Activities
All our physicians and nurses are active clinical investigators in one or more of the following fields: hypertension, familial-clustered coronary disease, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, thrombosis, accelerated atherosclerosis, estrogen replacement therapy, and non-invasive cardiovascular imaging. Dr. Lowenstein, an expert in vascular biology, directs the basic science research of the Preventive Cardiology Center.
Appointment Information:
Appointments at the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center can be scheduled at 410-955-3116 or 410-955-7376.
Appointments at the Johns Hopkins at Timonium location can be scheduled at 410-308-7170.
Appointment at our Cardiac Rehabilation and Clinical Exercise Program can be scheduled at 410-308-7178.
Preventive Cardiology Service Faculty:
Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, Director
Wendy Post, MD
M. Dominique Ashen, Ph.D., CRNP
Steven R. Jones, MD
Erin Michos, MD
Susan Zieman, MD
Gary Gerstenblith, MD
Elizabeth Ratchford, MD
Rinky Bhatia, MD
Rhondalyn McLean, MD
Sherita Hill Golden, MD, MHS
Juan Rivera, MD (Adjunct faculty)
Ty J. Gluckman (Adjunct faculty)
