Cardiac Health: Primary Prevention of Heart Disease in Women (original) (raw)

Update on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women

AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 2013

C ardiovascular disease (CVD) is the numberone killer of women, as well as men, in the United States. 1, 2 More than one in three American women today has some form of CVD, 1, 2 an umbrella term that includes coronary artery disease (often referred to as "coronary heart disease"), cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. 3 In 2008, CVD was responsible for the death of more women in the United States than all forms of cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and Alzheimer's disease combined. 2 Whereas one in 31 women died of breast cancer, one in three died from CVD. Women also accounted for more than half of all CVD deaths in 2008, 1, 2 dispelling any notion that CVD is a "man's disease." Nevertheless, a 2009 cross-sectional survey of 2,300 U.S. women found that only 54% of respondents recognized CVD as the leading cause of death in women, and this realization was shared by fewer black and Hispanic women than white women (43% and 44%, respectively, versus 60%), 4 although CVD prevalence is greater in black and Hispanic populations than in whites (6.5% and 6.1%, respectively, versus 5.8%). 5 In addition, a majority of the women surveyed believed they could reduce their risk of heart disease through the use of therapies that have no established 2.3 OVERVIEW: In 2008, more women in the United States died from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than from all forms of cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and Alzheimer's disease combined. One in three deaths in women was from CVD. While many women have come to recognize CVD as the leading cause of death in women, more education is needed to convey this message to others, especially high-risk groups like black and Hispanic women. In addition, recent American Heart Association (AHA) surveys have shown that a majority of women believe they can reduce their risk of heart disease through therapies with no established benefit (such as multivitamins and antioxidants, or aspirin in young women), just over half of women said they would call 9-1-1 if experiencing symptoms of heart attack, and few respondents were aware of atypical symptoms of heart attack. Persistent misunderstandings about CVD in women; new epidemiologic data; and increased awareness of sex differences in the way CVD presents, is evaluated, and responds to treatment prompted the AHA to update its 2007 guidelines for preventing CVD in women, stressing interventions described as "effective" in women, not only "evidence based." This article explains the shift in emphasis and reports on the highlights of the updated guidelines.

The primary prevention of heart disease in women through health behavior change promotion in primary care

Women's Health Issues, 2003

Methods. For the behaviors cited, USPSTF and CTF recommendations and their associated systematic evidence reviews (SERs) were retrieved. Individual articles from the USPSTF healthy diet and physical activity SERs that met our inclusion criteria were systematically examined to determine the applicability of this research to women. We supplemented findings from these sources with comprehensive federal research summaries and SERs from focused searches of systematic review databases relevant to primary CVD prevention in women through healthy behavior change.

Cardiovascular Disease in Women: A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Prevention

The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 2013

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number 1 cause of death in women, accounting for about 1 in 3 deaths. This article reviews the 2011 American Heart Association effectiveness-based guidelines for CVD prevention in women. Risk assessment, prevention, and management of risks through lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy are discussed. The article concludes with implications for nurse practitioners on ways to improve cardiovascular health among women in their practice.

Preventing Heart Disease in Women Through Physical Activity Can We Do Better

2019

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the number one killer of women is cardiovascular disease, causing one in three deaths each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 60 percent of U.S. women do not participate in the recommended amount of physical activity and more than 25 percent of women are not active at all. Health promotion and prevention continue to be a national and global priority. Scientific evidence supports physical activity as primary and secondary prevention. Physical activity should be prescribed to all women as part of preventive care and overall health. Healthcare providers in every setting must take an active role to address the importance of physical activity and reduce the burden of disease.

Comprehensive primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women

Clinical Cardiology

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in women. Historically, medical research has focused on male patients, and subsequently, there has been decreased awareness of the burden of ASCVD in females until recent years. The biological differences between sexes and differences in societal expectations defined by gender roles contribute to gender differences in ASCVD risk factors. With these differing risk profiles, risk assessment, risk stratification, and primary preventive measures of ASCVD are different in women and men. In this review article, clinicians will understand the risk factors unique to women, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and those that disproportionately affect them such as autoimmune disorders. With these conditions in mind, the approach to ASCVD risk assessment and stratification in women will be discussed. Furthermore, the literature behind the effects of primary preventive measures in women, including lifestyle modifications, aspirin, statins, and anticoagulation, will be reviewed. The aim of this review article was to ultimately improve ASCVD primary prevention by reducing gender disparities through education of physicians.