The Johns Hopkins Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center provides education, comprehensive treatment and diagnostic services to prevent and manage heart disease in women.
Traditional and Female-Specific Risk Factors that Influence A Woman’s Cardiovascular Risk
Women face both traditional risk factors and unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease when compared to men. Watch cardiologist Erin Michos and cardiac surgeon Jennifer Lawton discuss heart disease risk factors, screening and treatment options for women.
Johns Hopkins Women's Cardiovascular Program
For generations, Johns Hopkins cardiologists and cardiac surgeons have been providing comprehensive care of the highest quality, ensuring that patients receive the most advanced treatments known to medicine.
Learn more about our services and treatmentsSpecialized Programs
Our center provides treatment for any woman to help prevent cardiovascular disease. The Women's Cardiovascular Health Center features specialized clinics including:
SCAD Clinic
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) occurs when there is a tear in a blood vessel in the heart which can cause a heart attack. Although it is an overall rare cause of heart attacks, SCAD is common among pre-menopausal and middle-aged women. Our SCAD program provides counseling and management for women who have experienced this condition.
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Oncology Cardiovascular Disease Clinic
Cardiovascular disease can occur in women with a history of breast or other cancers, either from similar risk factors between the two conditions or resulting from cancer treatment. Our clinic provides specialized cardiovascular treatment and prevention for women who have been treated for cancer.
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Microvascular Angina Clinic
Microvascular Angina is chest pain caused by abnormal small arteries in the heart. This clinic provides treatment for this commonly undetected heart disease.
![heart disease in women - stethoscope icon graphic](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/-/media/heart-vascular-institute/images/cardiology-ciccarone-womens/scad_icon_graphic.png?h=440&iar=0&w=640&hash=1643C3F3985480110F22C446F8EB45C4)
Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic
The Cardio Obstetrics clinic provides heart disease treatment and prevention in women that are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant who are at increased cardiovascular risk.
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- Smoking
- Mental illness– women are more prone to depression and anxiety, which has been linked to heart disease.
- Metabolic syndrome – this combination of risk factors (obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose and triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol) increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease
- Rheumatologic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus – inflammation can cause fluid to collect around the heart and result in greater progress of coronary disease; women are more prone to rheumatoid arthritis and lupus than men
- Complications and disorders associated with pregnancy – including diabetes and hypertension (pre-eclampsia)
- C-reactive protein – a signal of inflammation that might indicate cardiovascular risk
- Diabetes- women with diabetes have coronary artery disease at a much earlier age than women without diabetes
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The following self-tests are a starting point to understanding risk factors, and do not replace a visit to your cardiologist.
- Reynolds Risk Score:
The Reynolds Risk Score is a self-test that factors in age, cholesterol, blood pressure, family history, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (a protein produced by the liver that reflects inflammation that is a factor leading to atherosclerosis) to provide an estimate of risk for cardiovascular disease that may occur over the next 10 years. - BMI (body mass index):???
Your body mass index is a measure of a person’s weight, which is arrived at by multiplying height in meters and weight in kilograms. A high BMI may indicate that you may be overweight or obese.
- Reynolds Risk Score:
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For Patients:
Johns Hopkins Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center makes it easy to access the specialists and services you need. To schedule an appointment directly, call 443-997-0270. We’ll route you to the correct specialist, and provide all the information you need to prepare for your visit.Cardiology & Vascular Medicine: 443-997-0270
Cardiac Surgery: 410-955-2800
Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy: 410-955-5165
Pediatric Heart Program: 410-955-9714
Interventional Radiology: 410-502-2835
Save time before your appointment at the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center. Print and complete your patient intake form before your appointment. (This is not required, but is offered as a convenience for patients.)For Physicians:
Visit refer a patient to view referral numbers by specialty and learn more about our referring physician services.
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
Erin Michos, M.D., is a preventive cardiologist and epidemiologist who studies populations to determine new risk factors that may contribute to cardiovascular diseases.
Services and Treatments
Cardiovascular disease can develop without any symptoms for years but can be prevented or easily treated. Our cardiologists provide a variety of clinical services including evaluation, examination, and diagnostic testing.
Our center provides personalized treatment for each patient including lifestyle management.
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Services
Learn more about our comprehensive services for women at risk for cardiovascular disease.
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Treatments
View our specialized treatments for women diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
Make a Donation
Support our researchers' and physicians' ongoing efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease by making a donation online, by phone or by mail.
Online
Make a donation now or pledge to give later. Fill out our secure online giving form.
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Over the Phone
Call us at 410-907-5010 to speak to someone directly about making a donation.
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Download our charitable giving form and mail it to our development office.
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Our Locations
The Women’s Cardiovascular Health Center’s main location is at Green Spring Station. Our alternative locations are at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and at our community physician center in Columbia, Maryland.
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Green Spring Station
10755 Falls Road
Pavilion I, Suite 360
Lutherville, MD 21093 -
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
4940 Eastern Avenue
301 Building
Baltimore, MD 21224 -
Johns Hopkins Cardiology - Columbia, MD
5450 Knoll N Dr
Columbia, MD 21045
Heart Health Resources for Women
Learn more about cardiovascular disease in women from Johns Hopkins heart specialists.
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Anxiety and Heart Disease
Will you develop heart disease if you have anxiety? Dr. Una McCann explores the connection between mental and cardiac health.
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What are Platelets?
Learn more about platelets and how they can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
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When to Evaluate Heart Palpitations
Learn how you can separate serious palpitations from harmless ones.
Women's Health Articles
Read more about heart disease preventions from our collection of women-centered health articles from Johns Hopkins Health.
- Women: How Controlling Blood Sugar Benefits Your Heart
- Stressed Out? 5 Tips for Women to Stay Heart Healthy
- Millennial Women: Understanding the Links Between Heart Disease and Depression
- 6 Heart Health Mistakes Made by Women- and How to Avoid Them
- Heart Attacks Striking Younger Women
- Women's Heart Health - MaryJo's Story
- Berry Good for Your Heart
- Is Taking Aspirin Good for Your Heart?
- Are Your Relationships Putting Your Heart at Risk?
- Prevention of Heart Disease: What Should I Be Doing?
- For Your Heart: Stay Calm and Cool
- Obesity, Sugar and Heart Health
- Risk Factors for Heart Disease: Don't Underestimate Stress
- Heart Health: Answers from Cardiologist Chiadi Ndumele
- Heart of a Woman