Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women - Essay Example

Running head: Womens Health and Public Policy Womens Health and Public Policy Insert         Insert Grade Insert 9 March 2012 Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a category of diseases involving blood vessels or the heart, and has been the main cause of deaths globally, mostly affecting women. According to Medline plus (2012), in the United States, heart disease is the main cause of death, and even causes disabilities in patients. However, different measures can play a role in reducing this cardiovascular disease, which include ceasing smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, exercising regularly, reducing the level of cholesterol, and controlling one’s blood pressure (women’s health 2012). It is estimated that in 2010, a total of 7.2 million died as a result of cardiovascular diseases, 5.5 million deaths caused by stroke, while 3.9 million deaths were caused by heart conditions (Preston, N.d). In addition, this disease is common in women because of lack of physical activities, leading to weight gain. Women also face regular stress at work and home, which is also a contributing factor. CDV includes heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke, which are caused by blockages in the arteries (National institute for health and clinical excellence, 2010, p.3). Public policies are aimed at reducing the levels of cardiovascular disease. This paper will discuss the prevention of cardiovascular disease in relation to public policies. In addition, diversity analysis will be applied and recommendations made. Public policies and the prevention of cardiovascular disease The government enacted policies that play a huge role in creating awareness. In the United States, the government has implemented policies, which reduce the risk of CVD; for instance, the wise woman program reaches out to low-income earning women, providing them with vital information on the prevention of CVD (CDC, 2012). According to the National institute for health and clinical excellence (2010, p.8), in the United Kingdom, the national institute of health guidance (NICE) provides the Britain citizens with guidance on the control of CVD. They include reduction in salt intake, the minimum intake being 6grams a day for adults (National institute for health and clinical excellence (2010, p.9). The reduction on the consumption of saturated fats and trans-fats is emphasized on, as well as ensuring that the commercial sector operates transparently. In addition, the NICE recommends that government puts restrictions on advertising for foods with high levels of fats, sugar or salt (National institute for health and clinical excellence (2010, p.12). It is evident that some policies have been enacted while others await approval, and as a result, public policies have contributed positively to the reduction of CDV through creating awareness and restriction to the contributing factors. Women’s health is a wanting issue that deserves the government’s attention; needless to say, the government has tried addressing the CDV health problem through public policies. Diversity analysis Socio-economic status and the prevention of CVD There is progress in the awareness, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease in women with the aid of public policies. However, women above the age of 65 years are at a higher risk of CVD compared to men. Moreover, diets play a major role in this issue. The socio-economic status of women can be evaluated on the levels of education, occupation, income, and accessibility to health (American psychology association, 2012). In addition, men are mostly paid more than women are. A US census also found that most women do not have enough economic resources. Moreover, women are likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders, while their poverty levels are higher, than for men. These factors put women at the risk of poor diet, which may cause obesity and stress, and as a result, leading to heart failure. The ability of women to access health influences their wellbeing; the ability to access proper healthcare and diets can reduce the chances of CVD. Therefore, the socio-economic status of women can be influence by dietary diversity, where the well-off women can afford healthy diets as opposed to the poor women. In addition, the educated women are aware of public policies that affect them, and therefore, they can easily access vital information concerning the prevention of cardiovascular diseases as opposed to women with low socio-economic status. According to Graham, et al. (2005, p.228), women with high socio-economic status can afford to smoke, which is the main cause of CVD; indeed, socio-economic status influences smoking. In addition, poverty can foster the smoking behavior into adulthood as a form of stress reliever. According to Squires (2000, p.3), a research conducted in Canada revealed that CVD was the leading cause of death among those with low income status, who were not able to identity the risk factors of CVD such as smoking or fatty foods. Williams (2001) argues that, in the United States, there exists a diversity of health problems; for instance, the rates of coronary heart disease are higher in African-American women than in white women, and therefore, socio-economic status of women is a determinant of health disparities and health risks. Public policies of women’s health may be influenced by this diversity, which will lead to implementation of effective public policies that will reduce inequality in healthcare among women. Congruence between Public Policy and Research in Womens Health According to Wuest, Gray, Berman & Gilboe (2002, p.795), researchers, policy makers, and health practitioners have a common goal, which involves improving the quality life of women. Health policies have expanded to the preventive measures and have promoted individual responsibility for a healthy lifestyle. In addition, research on women’s health has created a better understanding of the women’s health, which has impacted positively on policy making. Needless to say, without vital research on women’s health, public knowledge would be limited, and implementation of public policy would not address the main agenda effectively. Government laws and policies have impacted positively on women with CVD by funding institutions that deal with women’s health and related research. Wuest, Gray, Berman & Gilboe (2002, p.796) add that, improved women’s health fosters healthy societies; however, their quality of life is determined by their social and economic status. Therefore, public policies have the responsibility of increasing the quality of health of women through creating awareness, and via funding research on women’s health, which guides in policymaking. Diversity analysis recommendation Having considered the facets of diversity in women’s health, it is important to find solutions to end these disparities. First, results on diversity can lead to health research, which will influence policy-making; this will assist in improving health in the developing regions. Public policies should foster change in poverty stricken areas, where the economic status of women is low. Therefore, the government should be in a position to implement strategies that will foster education on preventive measures for low-income earners. According to Hanney, et al. (2003), World Health Organization emphasizes on the need for improved health as well as health equity. However, this can only be achieved through effective policymaking, which will outweigh economic status of women by ensuring that cardiovascular diseases’ deaths are reduced for all, despite their status. Conclusion Women’s health is precious and the government should continue implementing policies that create awareness, provide improved and equal health care for different socio-economic status. Cardiovascular diseases continue to claim many lives in both developed and developing nations; however, the government’s intervention has played a huge role in reducing the risk of CVDs. Needless to say, effective policies are required to improve the health of women. Awareness is vital in health care, as it reduces the rates of morbidity if all women, regardless their status, are well informed on the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, women can prevent the risks of CVDs by ensuring they eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, cease smoking, and limit alcohol consumption. References Wuest, J. Gray, M. Berman, H. Gilboe, M. (2002). Illuminating social determinants of Women’s health using grounded theory. Health Care for Women International, 23:794–808. Taylor & Francis publishers. Retrieved from: http://www.nnvawi.org/pdfs/alo/FordGilboe_social_determinants_grounded_theory.pdf American psychological association. (2012). Women & socio economic status. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/factsheet-women.aspx. CDC. (2012). Centre for disease control and prevention, United States. WISE WOMAN program. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/. Graham, H. et al. (2005). Socioeconomic life-course influences on women’s smoking status in early adulthood. Epidemiol Community Health, 60:228–233. Retrieved from http://jech.bmj.com/content/60/3/228.full.pdf. Hanney, S. et al. (2003). The utilization of health research in policy-making: concepts, examples and methods of assessment. Health Research Policy and Systems, 1:2. Retrieved from http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/1/1/2. Medline plus. (2012). Heart diseases. Trusted health information. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartdiseases.html. National institute for health and clinical excellence. (2010). Prevention of cardiovascular disease at population level. Retrieved from http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13024/49273/49273.pdf. Preston, C. (N.d). Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Retrieved from http://www.cwru.edu/med/epidbio/mphp439/Cardiovascular_Disease_in_Women.htm. Squires, B. (2000). Cardiovascular disease and socioeconomic status. Cardiovascular disease risk factors. Canadian medical association. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1232441/pdf/cmaj_162_9_s3.pdf. Women’s health.gov. (2012). Empowering women to live healthier lives. Retrieved from http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/heart-disease.cfm Williams, D. (2001). Racial/Ethnic Variations in Womens Health: The Social Embeddedness of Health. American Journal of Public Health, 92(4): 588–597. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447123/ Read More