Texas Journal of Rural Health, Volume 17, Number 2, 1999 Page: 59
80 p.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
WOMEN AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE
Education is part of change. Physicians
need to be educated about the symptoms of
heart disease specific for women. Women are
much more likely to describe vague symptoms
such as abdominal discomfort, pain that
radiates to the shoulders and neck, general
fatigue, and tiredness. Risk factors are similar
in men, women, and children, but because
women are generally diagnosed with heart
disease after menopause, less notice is paid to
the symptoms. They postpone going to the
doctor with chest pain, because they are
socialized to take care of others first, often at
their own expense (Ceimo, 1998). When they
do see a physician, their symptoms are vague
and usually not identified as heart problems,
so treatment is further delayed.
Some of the risk factors cannot be
avoided. For example, age, family history, and
gender are non-modifiable factors that impact
one's health. Others, like weight, cholesterol
levels, hypertension, diabetes, smoking,
alcohol use, inactivity, and stress, can be
modified. If family history is positive for
cardiovascular disease, then all risk factors
should be modified as much as possible.With 55% of American adults being over-
weight (Brink, 1998), obesity poses one of the
greatest modifiable risks. Inactivity, which
nearly doubles your risk (Murphy, 1998), is
one of the easiest risk factors to change. See
Figure 5 for the behavioral risk factors as
compared to the year 2000 goals.
Cholesterol levels, particularly triglyceride
levels, should be watched more closely
because that is a better predictor of cardio-
vascular disease in women (Legato, 1996).
Hormone replacement therapy for post-
menopausal women is also important.
Discussion with several women who had
experienced heart attacks revealed that they
dismissed their symptoms because they
believed women don't have heart attacks.
Once again, the public must be informed
about women and cardiovascular disease.
MOVING OUT OF THE SILENT EPIDEMIC
The cost of treatment for cardiovascular
disease is estimated at $9 billion annually.
The Centers for Disease Control andFigure 5. Behavioral Risk Factors Compared to Y2000 Goals
35
30 f
25-U Current
Smoking
Obesity
Inactivity
0 Y2000 Goals
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,1998.
59
0
0A
0.)20 -
15 -
10 -5
0
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Texas Journal of Rural Health, Volume 17, Number 2, 1999, periodical, 1999; Lubbock, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1114719/m1/67/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.