Premium Essay

Women and Heart Disease

In: Science

Submitted By leyetoyin2k3
Words 1846
Pages 8
Women and Heart Disease

Coppin State University

Abstract
Heart disease is a leading cause of death for women and men worldwide. Women are more vulnerable to myocardial infarction because of the size of their coronary arteries. They have unique risk factors such as a high level of cholesterol, hypertension, and smoking that cause heart disease, which leads to the high mortality rate. To reduce the high mortality rate among women, nurses must play their roles as educators because they interact frequently with patient, moreso than any other health care workers. Nurses must educate their patients on how to prevent the risk factors of heart disease. In order to reduce the high mortality rate due to MI in women, the Obama administration implemented the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), popularly called t "Obama Care". This policy has mandated that insurance companies cover important preventive care at no cost, which will help eliminate the expensive bills that would have been incurred. As a future nurse, I would address the issue of heart disease by providing qualitative education and creating awareness of the causes and preventive measures of heart diseases.

Keywords: Affordable Care Act, Heart Disease, Myocardial Infarction, "Obama Care", and Women's Health.

Introduction Although both men and women have increased mortality rates due to heart disease in the United States, women have the higher rate and carry a heavier cardiovascular burden due to their worse prognosis. Before discussing the details about heart disease, it is very important to shed more light on the meaning of "heart disease" itself. What is heart disease? Heart disease is any type of disorder that affects the heart. There are different types of heart disease; these includes angina, arrhythmia, septal defects, obstruction defects, cyanotic heart disease,

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Coronary Heart Disease in Women

...INTRODUCTION This poster presentation is about coronary heart disease and women. Along with the supporting paper I will attempt to identify women’s perception of CHD and some of the risk factors. The author will define coronary heart disease (CHD), and show its implication for women TOPIC AND RATIONALE Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the single largest killer of women in the United Kingdom (Hatchett and Thompson, 2002; Julian et al 2005; Mikhail, 2005). Women perceive breast cancer as a greater risk than CHD though 16% of all deaths in women in the United Kingdom (UK) were from CHD, in comparison to 4% for breast cancer (British Heart Foundation, 2005). It is suggested that these misperceptions may lead women to underestimate their risk for CHD and fail to seek early interventions to prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality (Hart, 2005). I chose this topic for my poster presentation after reading an article in the newspaper regarding women’s perception of CHD. It sparked my interest as the article made me realize that breast and cervical cancer were at the forefront of my mind, with CHD rarely thought about. This perception I realized was due to the media; in women’s magazines where the campaign for breast awareness is highly visible and the general media where CHD is portrayed as the preserve of the white middle aged male. The BHF, which published the report on women and CHD, seem to perpetuate this view in their current campaign (BHF, 2006a). The campaign...

Words: 1105 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Heart Disease Among African American Women

...Heart Disease among African American Women Ciatta Jones, RN Excelsior College Abstract Heart Disease remains the number one killer among women. However, African American women have a higher rate of heart disease than any other ethnic group or demographics and subsequently have an increased mortality rate among other nationalities. They are disproportionately outnumbered when it comes to the obesity rate, stroke and diabetes amongst other groups such as the Caucasians and Asian’s. Contributing factors are decreased awareness and knowledge of heart disease, a low self perception regarding risk factors, ongoing behaviors that are not modified such as smoking, alcoholism, eating fried and salty foods and sometimes the inability to get to medical facilities and clinics. With more education about heart disease and an increased perception of risk, people’s minds will become transformed and will be motivated to modify risk factors related to heart disease. Differences in knowledge and comprehension levels are greater amid those that have a higher educational level. Continual health promotions, fairs, seminars and preventative efforts must continue for us to see positive outcomes associated with a desired behavior change. Keywords: African American, heart disease, women, risk factors, education Heart disease among African American Women The death threat of heart disease is greater than that of AIDS and breast cancer collectively. It is the number one killer of women...

Words: 3067 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Ischaemic Heart Disease Case Report

...Introduction According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the leading reasons for death of women worldwide. WHO also states that heart diseases are found common reason in middle to higher income group countries. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs334/en/ In New Zealand, 3145 women had been died because of heart disease during 2012 which stats that 8 women per day and approximate 60 women per week. http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/know-the-facts/statistics This trend has been decreased marginally after 2006 but still the major reason for women death. http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/annual-update-key-results-nzhs-2013-14-dec14-v2.docx This report is prepared to focus on health issues of...

Words: 827 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Women and Cardiovascular Disease

...Women and Cardiovascular Disease Biology 1114 April 6, 2011 Women and Cardiovascular Disease Did you know that cardiovascular disease is not a disease affecting only men? Cardiovascular disease has been found to be the number one killer of women. According to Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) experts women die from cardiovascular disease one in two; compared with one in twenty-five die from breast cancer.1 According to research women may not be as aggressively treated as men; and another known fact is related to symptoms which may vary differently from men who are having a heart attack compared to women. Within 1 year of a man having a heart attack statistics show that 24 percent of those men die, in comparison to women it is a significant increase to 42 percent. The differences for the reason women die more than men are still not understood. We do know that women are likely to get cardiovascular disease about 10 years later in life than men, and also have coexisting chronic conditions. In 2007, cardiovascular disease was the cause of death in 306,246 females.2 Often times in cardiovascular disease related to women is considered an “older women’s disease” and it is the leading cause of death in women over the age of 65. In women age 25-44 cardiovascular disease is the third leading cause and following in the second leading cause in women age 45-64. What is cardiovascular disease? Cardiovascular disease occurs when a substance called...

Words: 1592 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Non Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardio Vascular Disease

...Factors for Cardiovascular Disease By: Fawn R. Stephen-Odle June 2012 Cardiovascular disease is caused by disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and includes coronary heart disease (heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), raised blood pressure (hypertension), peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and heart failure. The major causes of cardiovascular disease are tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol. Unfortunately, there are four non-modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVD (cardiovascular disease). Race and Ethnicity: Race and ethnicity have quite a bit to do with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Studies show that African Americans have a higher risk for Cardiovascular Disease because of higher blood pressure levels, overweight and obesity, compared to Caucasians. Higher blood pressure levels are among the highest in African Americans in the world. Mexican Americans and Native Americans are also at higher risk for heart disease because of higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and smoking. Studies also show that about 77% of African American women, 72% of Mexican American women, and 61% of Native American women are overweight or obese, compared to 57% of Caucasian women. Taking precautions such as eating a proper diet, exercise, lessen use of alcohol, and quitting smoking can reduce a person’s chances of contracting Cardiovascular Disease. All races and ethnicities...

Words: 1018 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Heart Disease Hcs/245

...Heart Disease The heart is described as a strong muscle about the size of your fist that pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system through a network of elastic type tubes throughout the body. It helps make up the cardiovascular system, which consists of arteries, capillaries, and veins. Over time the heart can develop many problems such as blocked arteries caused by a buildup of cells, fat, cholesterol. This build up is commonly known as plaque. These conditions eventually lead to Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is described as a range of diseases that affect the heart. There are several diseases that can be classified as heart disease. These diseases include diseases of the blood vessels, known as coronary artery disease; arrhythmias, which are complications with heart rhythm; heart infections; and heart defects you're born with, described as congenital heart defects. Heart disease can also be referred to as cardiovascular disease. Coronary artery disease (CAD) generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain, or stroke. There are many risk factors that play a role in the development of heart disease. These factors include age, family history of CAD, ethnicity, uncontrolled cholesterol, and uncontrolled blood pressure, and diabetes, lack of physical activity, obesity and smoking. Heart disease also happens to be the number one killer amongst women. Women...

Words: 941 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Community Health Promotion Tool

...Promotion Tool Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States. There were 60% more women who died from a cardio vascular disease that all other cancers combined in 2004 ("Women'Shealth.gov: Heart Disease Fact Sheet", 2012). One in four women dies from heart disease each year in the U.S. These are staggering numbers suggesting that a person is more likely than not to know someone who will die from a heart attack or stroke than from cancer. Only 54% actually recognize heart disease as the leading killer of women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Heart disease is a term used to cover a range of silent diseases that affect the heart including, but not limited to, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and congenital heart disease ("Heart Disease: Definition", 2015). These diseases are “silent” because many times there are not symptoms suggesting a problem before the patient experiences a heart attack or stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Then main cause of heart disease is a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can cause narrowing or a complete blockage which in turn leads to heart attacks or strokes ("Heart Disease: Causes", 1998-2015). An unhealthy diet, smoking, obesity, and a lack of exercise can all lead to narrowing and blockage ("Heart Disease: Causes", 1998-2015). Each of these things is correctable by a simple change in life style. Prevention is the best way to fight heart disease. “Know your numbers”...

Words: 462 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Elsa's Paper

...of herself as perfectly healthy. But it turns out Shermane had been at risk all along. Like many other African American women, she had a strong family history of high blood pressure and heart disease. Unfortunately, she didn’t discover this until it was almost too late. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in women, and stroke disproportionately affects African Americans. Importantly, African American women are less likely than Caucasian women to be aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death. Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity and a family history of heart disease are all greatly prevalent among African Americans and are major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. What’s more, African American women have almost two times the risk of stroke than Caucasians, and more likely to die at an earlier age when compared to women of other ethnicities. Here are a few unsettling stats: Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African American women annually. Of African-American women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases. Only 1 in 5 African American women believes she is personally at risk. Only 52 percent of African American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Only 36 percent of African American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk....

Words: 293 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Heart Disease Research Paper

...The magnitude of Heart Disease in the United States Name: Institutional Affiliation The magnitude of Heart Disease in the United States Heart disease refers to a range of conditions impacting the heart (MFMER, 2018). In the US, the most prevalent form of heart disease is coronary heart disease. This disease interferes with the flow of blood to the heart. A reduction in the flow of blood results in a heart attack (CCD, 2015). There are also other diseases under the umbrella of heart disease including arrhythmias and congenital heart defects. In most cases, heart disease as a term is used interchangeably with cardiovascular disease (MFMER, 2018). However, it must be emphasized that cardiovascular disease basically describes...

Words: 2431 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Health Promotions

...conditions, health promotion is essential for acquiring and maintaining a better quality of life. Levels of Health Promotion The promotion of health includes preventing any discrepancies in healthy living. There are three levels of prevention involved in health promotion which include primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Each level of prevention has goals for promoting healthy lifestyles. Nurses will encounter many different implementation methods depending upon the level of health promotion. To begin with, “primary prevention precedes disease or dysfunction,” (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). The goal is to protect healthy people from becoming ill or developing a disease. A nurse’s responsibilities involving primary health promotion would include identifying those at risk, educating, and providing protection from injury or disease. An article concerning women’s heart health was reviewed to...

Words: 1085 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Coronary

...Giselle Salgado-Jimenez June 18, 2015 Coronary Artery Disease Heart disease The topic I will explore is Coronary Artery Disease or Heart Disease in women. My question, what do healthcare providers need to know about heart disease in woman and how it is different from men will be discussed. Coronary Artery disease is the leading cause of death in woman and men in society. Many women’s risk factor goes unrecognized and untreated by their primary doctor (Pregler et al., 2009). According to familyDoctor.org, “American women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease that of breast cancer” (2009). In generally men have an earlier onset of heart disease than to woman but have a higher survival rate from heart attach than do woman (Dzugan, 2005). Heart disease can take many forms. Different arteries supply different areas of the heart with oxygenated blood. If one or more of these arteries became narrowed or clogged as a result of coronary artery disease, or atherosclerosis the artery cannot fully supply the part of the heart it is responsible for. The heart is an effective pump only when good blood supply is maintained to all heart muscles. Most women are not aware that heart disease is a greater risk for them than breast or cervical cancer. My research has shown that women in general have a lack of knowledge of heart disease and its deadly risk.There is numerous risk factors that contribute to the risk to heart disease. Risk can be categorized into no modifiable risk factors...

Words: 1188 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Heart Disease

...TitleHeart Disease 1.What Is Heart Disease? The topic of heart disease usually centers on heart attacks but there are many other problems that can compromise heart functions, injure the heart tissues, or cause heart disease. Most of the major problems include coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. The following slides will present these heart problems and their warning signs 2.Heart disease facts Heart disease refers to several conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Arrhythmias, heart valve disease, congenital heart defects, and inflammation of the heart or its lining (the pericardium) are all diseases that affect the heart. However, this article will focus on the most common type of heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD). Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Over a million people each year will have a heart attack and 25% will die before they get to the hospital while or in the Emergency Department. Prevention is the key to treatment of heart disease. Diagnosis of heart disease is often made by careful history taken by a health care practitioner. Some individuals may have atypical symptoms, including almost none at all. The testing strategy to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment needs to be individualized for each patient diagnosed with heart disease. Treatment of heart disease depends...

Words: 918 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Health Education

...HCA 331 Introduction to Health Care Education Prof. Mona Chin February 18, 2013 The health education field has expanded in many ways over the past years and will continue to expand over the upcoming years due to the increasing resources that are available for the individuals. The health education field is a vast profession that has greatly impacted many individuals with the information that the individuals provide. This paper will discuss the health education field and profession in greater detail as far as what has happened over the years and the way the profession has changed. It will also analyze a website that covers an HIV prevention program and will also provide a description of a website that has been created to cover heart disease. There are many different events that have helped to shape health education and the health education profession. Three of the events that have impacted the health education field the most are the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Social Security Act. According to Cottrell, Girvan, & McKenzie (2012), the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act “bill encourages and promotes worksite wellness programs, encourages evidence-based community prevention and wellness programs, and provides strong support for school based health centers” (p.69). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provide the privacy of health information from...

Words: 2848 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Diseases

...GLOBAL VARIATIONS OF CHRONIC DISEASE Name: Institution: Chronic diseases all around the world have been causing lots deaths and having devastating effects on families (CDC, 2011). In this essay, I will discuss coronary heart disease symptoms, detection, prevention, causal mechanisms, treatment, and effects. I will also analyze its global variations and recommend how public health officers can be able to promote prevention and treatment measures. Coronary heart disease is a disease that develops over a long time. This disease involves accumulation or deposition of plaque in the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscles with oxygen and nourishments. The plaque hardens with time and it can burst at time and formation of a clot can occur in the artery causing more narrowing or blockage. In the long run, the accumulation leads to a decrease of the coronary artery diameter. This causes limitation of the oxygen and other nourishments supplied to the heart muscles. This weakens the heart muscles hence impairing the function of the heart resulting to angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack/heart failure and finally death (Krasner & Riegelman, 2013). A coronary heart disease has several causes or factors that are affiliated to it. These factors are classified into modifiable and non-modifiable depending on whether they can be prevented or not. Some of the modifiable factors are: smoking...

Words: 1534 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

My Paper

...and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The majority of greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy, although deforestation, industrial processes, and some agricultural practices also emit gases into the atmosphere, so in actuality we have also played a major role. I picked this type of situation to compare to everything else in the world because heart disease is a broad term used to describe a range of diseases that affect your heart. The various diseases that fall under the umbrella of heart disease include diseases of your blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); heart infections; and heart defects you're born with congenital heart defects. The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with "cardiovascular disease." Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as infections and conditions that affect your heart's muscle, valves or beating rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease. Many forms of...

Words: 760 - Pages: 4