A Woman's Heart is Different
The Women's Cardiovascular Center provides comprehensive cardiovascular medical care to women, with a special focus on prevention. A multidisciplinary team of providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians and exercise physiologists, has specialized expertise in preventive cardiology, coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, valve disease, vascular disease, pregnancy and heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is NOT just a man’s disease. Cardiovascular disease is the Number 1 killer of women over age 25 in the United States, regardless of race or ethnicity. The death rate from cardiovascular diseases has decreased among men, but continues to increase in women.
Unfortunately, more than 46% of women are unaware that heart disease is the greatest health problem facing women today. 1 When surveyed, most women believed that cancer was the leading cause of death in women, but cardiovascular disease is the single leading cause of death for women in America and most developed countries, and claims the lives of more women than all forms of cancer combined.
- Worldwide, 8.6 million women die from heart disease each year.2
- In the US, there are more than 8 million women currently living with heart disease.2
- About 6 million American women have coronary heart disease.3
- In the US, heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD) claim almost 420,000 lives each year. That's about one death each minute.1
- 1 in 3 American women will die of heart disease.3
- An estimated 435,000 American women have heart attacks annually. Nearly two-thirds of the deaths from heart attacks in women occur among those who have no history of chest pain.2
- 42% of women who have heart attacks die within 1 year, compared to 24% of men.2
- Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men and women’s survival continues to widen.2
Resources
- FACTS - Cardiovascular Disease: Women’s No. 1 Health Threat. American Heart Association.
- Women and Heart Disease Fact Sheet. Women's Heart Foundation.
- Subtle and Dangerous: Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women. National Institute of Nursing Research.
- Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics--2011 Update : A Report From the American Heart Association. American Heart Association.
Complete Care
At the Women’s Cardiovascular Center, women can get comprehensive heart care, designed to meet their unique needs with a focus on preventive care including:
In addition our health care professionals offer specialty services for women with:
Our multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, exercise physiologists and other health-care professionals is devoted to providing excellent care to women with cardiovascular disease and to help women prevent heart disease. The center also is designed to accommodate women who request a female provider.
Why choose Cleveland Clinic for your care?
Our outcomes speak for themselves. Please review our facts and figures and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.
Our team of health care professionals is world renown in the treatment of cardiovascular disease in men and women. We treat women in our Center from all over the world and more than 31 states.
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Our Medical Team
Leslie Cho, MD specializes in cardiovascular medicine, internal medicine, interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular disease.
After graduating from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Cho completed her internship and residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Cho completed her fellowship in cardiology, interventional cardiology and peripheral disease at Cleveland Clinic. Prior to becoming Director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Center, Dr. Cho directed the Interventional Cardiology Research Program at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.
Julie Huang, MD specializes in clinical cardiology and preventive cardiology.
Dr. Huang graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, after which she completed her internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and her fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
Ellen Mayer Sabik, MD specializes in echocardiography, valvular heart disease and heart disease in women.
Dr. Sabik graduated from Harvard University Medical School in Boston. She completed her internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, also in Boston. From there, she completed her fellowships at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and Cleveland Clinic.
Soo Hyun (Esther) Kim, MD specializes in cardiovascular prevention, atherosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, peripheral arterial disease, general cardiology, vascular ultrasound and use of CIMT to assess pre-clinical atherosclerosis.
Dr. Kim graduated from Duke University School of Medicine and also holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina. She completed an Internal Medicine residency at Johns Hopkins before coming to Cleveland Clinic.
Other Specialties
The Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute’s team includes specialists in Electrophysiology (Abnormal Heart Rhythms) and Heart Failure in women.
Dietitians
- Julia Renee Zumpano RD, LD - Nutrition Counseling
- Katherine Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD - Nutrition Counseling
What to Expect
Whether you are coming from around the corner or around the world, you want to know what to expect before, during and after your visit with us. If you have any questions while reviewing this information, please contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
- »Before Your Appointment
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If you are scheduled at least one week away, you will be asked to send in your records, including medical history, test results and films (such as echocardiogram, ultrasound, chest x-ray, MRI or CT as applicable). All information should be sent in the same package (clearly marked with your name and address) via Airborne Express, Federal Express, or certified U.S. mail (make sure you have a tracking number) to the physician with which you have an appointment. The address to mail your records is:
Women’s Cardiovascular Center
Physician Name
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue, JB - 1
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
If you are scheduled less than one week out, please bring your records and films to your appointment.
When you make your appointment, you will also receive a packet of paperwork which asks you about your risk factors, lifestyle habits, allergies, medications, medical history, symptoms you are having, and history of heart or vascular disease. Please complete the paperwork before your appointment.
On the day of your appointment, please fast for 12-hours prior to your visit (no food or drink, except water) so that any laboratory testing can be performed during your appointment.
Traveling to Cleveland Clinic
When you make your appointment, we would like to make traveling to Cleveland Clinic as easy as possible. Information on travel to the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute.
- »During Your Appointment
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You will meet with a medical assistant who will begin to collect medical history information, medications, allergies, take your measurements, including blood pressure and begin the documentation process.
Tests and Procedures
To evaluate your condition, your health care team will conduct a review of your risk factors for heart disease, what you have done in the past to prevent heart disease, a medical history, an assessment of symptoms and a physical exam. Your physician may also order one or more of the following tests to help evaluate your condition:
Additional Services
Cleveland Clinic Women's Cardiovascular Center offers a variety of additional services to help women get - and stay - heart healthy.
Exercise / Rehabilitation
Specialized activity programs can help reduce the risk of heart disease as well as help women who currently are being treated for heart disease. We offer:
- individual exercise prescriptions
- cardiac rehabilitation
- peripheral arterial disease rehabilitation
Nutrition Counseling
A wide range of nutrition services are offered by experienced and specialized registered dietitians, including:
- one-to-one counseling
- shared medical appointments
- group weight loss programs
- culinary classes
- online information
Behavioral services
The following programs are available to help with lifestyle modification:
- smoking cessation
- one-to-one depression/anxiety counseling for those with heart disease
How long will you need to stay at Cleveland Clinic?
To complete all testing, you will need to stay in the Cleveland area for 1 day.
- »After Your Visit
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Patients are generally seen back at the Center at three months to one year depending on their medical condition or needs. In between visits, our team of Nurse Practitioners are available to answer your questions and address preventive cardiology issues, as well as other urgent needs.
Appointment Information
By Phone
Locally 216.444.9353 or toll-free 800.223.2273, ext. 49353
Directions
When you make your appointment, ask the administrative assistant for the name of your physician and desk number. You will be told to go to Desk J2 - 4 or Desk M41, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
Online
Use our secure online form to submit an appointment request 24/7. We will receive it and follow-up with you as soon as possible.
Physician Referrals
Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET):
Locally 216.444.9353 or toll-free 800.223.2273, ext. 49353
At all other times call Patient Access Services locally 216.444.8302 or toll-free 800.553.5056.
Research For Patients
To improve women’s care for the future, the Women's Cardiovascular Center engages in research efforts that focus on improving outcomes for women with cardiovascular disease.
Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation Program is a clinical program (outpatient clinic) that utilizes a multidisciplinary team of providers to prevent the occurrence or progression of cardiovascular disease in women. Those who have heart disease or have been treated for heart disease stand to benefit the most. Anyone who wants to lower her risk for heart or vascular disease is a candidate. For additional information, call our toll free number 800.223.1696 (or 800.CCF.1696).
Additional Resources
American Heart Association National Center
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75231
Phone: 800.AHA.USA1 or 800.242.8721
818 18th Street, NW, Suite 930
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202.728.7199
Office on Women's Health
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 712E
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: 800.994.WOMAN
TDD: 888.220.5446
Contact form: womenshealth.gov
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Health Information Center
Attention: The Heart Truth
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Phone: 301.592.8573
TTY: 240.629.3255
Email: nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov
National Center
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: 888.4.STROKE
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
- includes MedlinePlus Health Information, ClinicalTrials.gov and many other links to health information