Maryland Heart Center

About the Heart

Heart Overview

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), as defined by the American Heart Association (AHA), include:

coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease) stroke (brain attack)
high blood pressure (hypertension)
rheumatic heart disease

Approximately 58 million Americans have one or more forms of CVD.

Each year cardiovascular diseases top the list of the country's most serious health problems.

Coronary heart disease is the number one killer, and stroke is the the number three killer. Stroke is also the number one cause of serious, long-term disability.
Source: American Heart Association

Yet studies show that nearly everyone can become heart healthy by:

following a proper diet
following an appropriate exercise program
following a routine health care plan
eliminating tobacco products

Most important to toppling cardiovascular diseases as the number one cause of disability and death are early detection and early treatment.

At University of Maryland Medicine, the health care professionals, programs and facilities of our Heart Center provide the full spectrum of cardiac care services -- from education, nutrition and exercise programs to the very latest evaluation and intervention procedures.

Chest Pain - Sudden Lightheadedness, Numbness, Nausea, Confusion ...?

These and other signs and symptoms may indicate heart attack or brain attack. If you (or someone else) experience these warning signs,

Call 911 or immediately go to the nearest emergency room.

Please call if you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services. Patients dial 1-800-492-5538 or 410-328-5842, physicians dial 410-328-6622 or 1-800-318-1019.