Below are Baltimore area cardiovascular disease treatment and prevention resources. Click the hyperlinked web address for transportation information and a map from Miracle City Church to each service. General information about cardiovascular disease can be found below the listed resources.
The American Heart Association
The American Heart Association aims to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke through cooking classes, online stroke educational tools, CPR classes, and much more.
217 East Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 685-7074
Services:
Eligibility: All are eligible
For more information: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association aims to prevent and cure diabetes while improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
2002 Clipper Park Road, Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21211
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
(410) 265-0075
Services:
Eligibility: Varies, call or go online for more information
For more information: http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/local-offices/baltimore-maryland/programs.html
Maryland Healthy Men Program
UMMC Paca Pratt Building, 8th floor
(410) 328-3280/ (443) 721-3941
Services: Free for participants
Eligibility: African-American Men with undiagnosed high blood pressure
For more information, email: healthypressure@umm.edu
Shepherd’s Clinic
Shepherd's Clinic provides healthcare, including primary and specialty care, to uninsured populations in Baltimore.
2800 Kirk Avenue,
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 467-7140
Services:
Eligibility: Uninsured patients living in Baltimore city and North Baltimore
For more information: http://shepherdsclinic.org
Men's Health Center
Men's Health Center provides annual physicals, which include screening for high blood pressure. They work with patients to help manage chronic issues including heart disease and diabetes.
1515 W North Ave,
Baltimore, MD 21217
(410) 383-8300
Services:
Eligibility: Free to uninsured men over 18 years old
For more information: http://www.totalhealthcare.org
Additional Health Information About Cardiovascular Disease
Is there a local chapter of the American Heart Association and at least 4 other organizations in the designated areas that can provide CVD related information?
American Heart Association does have a local chapter in Baltimore! In addition to American Heart Association having a strong presence in the community, there are other local organizations that tackle cardiovascular disease. These organizations include Healthy Men, Shepherd's Clinic, Men’s Health Center and Simple Cooking with Heart Kitchen (a subsidiary service of Baltimore’s American Heart Association).
Physical Activity: Are there organizations in the city providing free exercise classes?
Shepherd’s Clinic provides a variety of exercise and health awareness classes. Although they are free, they have suggested donations for different classes.
Drop-in classes are offered with a suggested donation between $2-$3 for patients, and $5 for non-patients. The drop in classes include acupuncture circle, yoga, salt-smart nutrition lecture, health care seminar, and walking. Shepherd’s Clinic also offers pre-registered classes which have a suggested donation of $3 for patients and $5 for non-patients. These classes include, health heart, yoga basics, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Diet: Are there organizations that provide healthy instructional cooking classes in the city?
American Heart Association offers a cooking program for Baltimore residents; this program is called Simple Cooking with Heart Kitchen.This program teaches participants how to cook healthy meals in a culinary class and how to bring those skills to their home. For residents who would like to take the class it costs $5. For Healthy Men participants, the class is free and covered by the Healthy Men initiative.
Healthy Men also provides participants with a low-sodium, low-fat and low sugar cookbook. They also supply the participants with low-salt McCormick seasonings for participants to use at home, and all these services are free of cost.
Diabetes Information: Can the disease be reversed?
There are two main types of diabetes:
Unfortunately, Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed and it is a chronic disease. Individuals with Type 1 have to continue to monitor their blood sugar levels by injecting insulin in their body and being cautious of their diet. THe same goes with Type 2 diabetes, as individuals have to carefully monitor their diet.
But Type 2 diabetes can be reversed, since the onset was due to multiple lifestyle factors, such as eating high-processed sugary foods, the individual has the power to change their behaviors
How to reverse?
It is also important to note that pregnant women are at risk of gestational diabetes. This occurs when there is too much glucose levels in the mother’s blood and the body responds by making too much insulin. This imbalance can affect the fetus and can cause birth defects. Seek help right away and being immediate lifestyle changes to reverse it. After the pregnancy, gestational diabetes goes away, but there is a high risk of having it again in future pregnancies.
Citations:
American Diabetes Association. Living with Diabetes. Retrieved from: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/
The American Heart Association
The American Heart Association aims to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke through cooking classes, online stroke educational tools, CPR classes, and much more.
217 East Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 685-7074
Services:
- Simple Cooking Classes with Heart Kitchen/ $5
- CPR Classes/ $80
- Online stroke education tools/ FREE
Eligibility: All are eligible
For more information: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association aims to prevent and cure diabetes while improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
2002 Clipper Park Road, Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21211
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
(410) 265-0075
Services:
- “Team Diabetes” is an athletic group that offers a participation and a support group in a marathon or triathlon
- “Por Tu Familia” is geared towards Latinos to be more physically active, eat healthier, and learn more about diabetes
- Full website is translated to Spanish
- Diabetes prevention and healthy eating education through Live Empowered Program
- Promotes healthy habits that transcend in our daily work lives at Wellness Lives Here
Eligibility: Varies, call or go online for more information
For more information: http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/local-offices/baltimore-maryland/programs.html
Maryland Healthy Men Program
UMMC Paca Pratt Building, 8th floor
(410) 328-3280/ (443) 721-3941
Services: Free for participants
- Blood Pressure and Heart Rate screenings
- Blood Pressure education
- Take-home blood pressure monitors
- Gym membership at the Druid Hill YMCA
- Low-fat and salt-free recipe books and seasonings
- DASH diet outline and education
- Local grocery store tour
Eligibility: African-American Men with undiagnosed high blood pressure
For more information, email: healthypressure@umm.edu
Shepherd’s Clinic
Shepherd's Clinic provides healthcare, including primary and specialty care, to uninsured populations in Baltimore.
2800 Kirk Avenue,
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 467-7140
Services:
- Health Care seminar/ FREE
- Yoga/ $5 (non-patients), $3 (patients)
- Referral appointments to Medstar/ Free with referral form from appointment at the clinic
- Medication refills
- The clinic provides a variety of services dealing with wellness, mental health and clinical services
Eligibility: Uninsured patients living in Baltimore city and North Baltimore
For more information: http://shepherdsclinic.org
Men's Health Center
Men's Health Center provides annual physicals, which include screening for high blood pressure. They work with patients to help manage chronic issues including heart disease and diabetes.
1515 W North Ave,
Baltimore, MD 21217
(410) 383-8300
Services:
- -Health screening
- -Primary care
- -Pharmacy & medical assistance
- -Medication monitoring
- -These services listed can all help you stay healthy before the onset of cardiovascular disease.
Eligibility: Free to uninsured men over 18 years old
For more information: http://www.totalhealthcare.org
Additional Health Information About Cardiovascular Disease
Is there a local chapter of the American Heart Association and at least 4 other organizations in the designated areas that can provide CVD related information?
American Heart Association does have a local chapter in Baltimore! In addition to American Heart Association having a strong presence in the community, there are other local organizations that tackle cardiovascular disease. These organizations include Healthy Men, Shepherd's Clinic, Men’s Health Center and Simple Cooking with Heart Kitchen (a subsidiary service of Baltimore’s American Heart Association).
Physical Activity: Are there organizations in the city providing free exercise classes?
Shepherd’s Clinic provides a variety of exercise and health awareness classes. Although they are free, they have suggested donations for different classes.
Drop-in classes are offered with a suggested donation between $2-$3 for patients, and $5 for non-patients. The drop in classes include acupuncture circle, yoga, salt-smart nutrition lecture, health care seminar, and walking. Shepherd’s Clinic also offers pre-registered classes which have a suggested donation of $3 for patients and $5 for non-patients. These classes include, health heart, yoga basics, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Diet: Are there organizations that provide healthy instructional cooking classes in the city?
American Heart Association offers a cooking program for Baltimore residents; this program is called Simple Cooking with Heart Kitchen.This program teaches participants how to cook healthy meals in a culinary class and how to bring those skills to their home. For residents who would like to take the class it costs $5. For Healthy Men participants, the class is free and covered by the Healthy Men initiative.
Healthy Men also provides participants with a low-sodium, low-fat and low sugar cookbook. They also supply the participants with low-salt McCormick seasonings for participants to use at home, and all these services are free of cost.
Diabetes Information: Can the disease be reversed?
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Diabetes 1: the pancreas does no not produce any or not enough insulin due to genetic factors
- DIabetes 2: the pancreas does not make enough insulin to respond to the high glucose levels from lifestyle factors
Unfortunately, Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed and it is a chronic disease. Individuals with Type 1 have to continue to monitor their blood sugar levels by injecting insulin in their body and being cautious of their diet. THe same goes with Type 2 diabetes, as individuals have to carefully monitor their diet.
But Type 2 diabetes can be reversed, since the onset was due to multiple lifestyle factors, such as eating high-processed sugary foods, the individual has the power to change their behaviors
How to reverse?
- Limit sugar intake
- Eat more whole wheat foods,
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Be physically active
- Maintain a healthy weight
It is also important to note that pregnant women are at risk of gestational diabetes. This occurs when there is too much glucose levels in the mother’s blood and the body responds by making too much insulin. This imbalance can affect the fetus and can cause birth defects. Seek help right away and being immediate lifestyle changes to reverse it. After the pregnancy, gestational diabetes goes away, but there is a high risk of having it again in future pregnancies.
Citations:
American Diabetes Association. Living with Diabetes. Retrieved from: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/