Every month we profile the work of an outstanding CienciaPR member or discuss a topic of relevance to our community

Corazón Hispano: protecting cardiovascular health in vulnerable Hispanic populations

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heart
CT reconstruction of a human heart

Heart disease is the main cause of death in Puerto Rico and Latin America. According to the American Heart Association, every 35 seconds somebody dies due to complications regarding cardiovascular disorders.

The heart is responsible for pumping blood to all tissues. In spite of its strength, the heart is a delicate organ, susceptible to environmental risk factors.

A Puerto Rican scientist and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Juan José Rivera-Sierra, has focused his career in researching these cardiovascular risk factors. Dr. Rivera, who is also a member of CienciaPR, is interested in improving preventive cardiology by better understanding the risk factors that might lead to cardiac failure. Dr. Rivera conducts his research at Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Cardiovascular Prevention Center, under the mentorship of Roger Blumenthal M.D. He uses Cardiac CT to visualize heart damage and, in combination with existing preventive and detection methods, diagnose cardiovascular risk before cardiac damage becomes irreparable.

Besides his research, and as part of his commitment to vulnerable Hispanic populations Dr. Rivera created a webpage and blog called Corazón Hispano where he discussed practical aspects of prevention of heart disease among Hispanic populations. Through his research and the cybernetic outreach tools Dr. Juan José Rivera-Sierra has become a protector of cardiovascular health in vulnerable Hispanic populations.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. Juan José Rivera Sierra, or his blog ìCorazÛn Hispanoî and his research, please visit his profile or his webpage Corazón Hispano.

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