Stroke Case Study

Stroke Case Study

Introduction

Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) means a broad spectrum of heart and circulatory system problems. The American Heart Association estimates that it affects 80 million adults in the United States, accounting for more than one-third of all deaths. There is a global epidemic of heart disease, and more than 60 percent of the global burden occurs in developing countries. Heart disease is very prevalent among women, killing nearly twice as many than all types of cancer including breast cancer, but women tend to underestimate the health threat because of a public misconception that it is generally a man's disease. Therefore, public health campaigns have been launched to raise awareness of heart disease among women and to promote healthy living. This article provides an overview of heart disease, including its types, causes, diagnosis and treatment. Heart disease in women and men is similar in many ways but important differences exist, including some experiences unique to women, which are discussed in this entry (Barnes, 2008).

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, includes a myriad of disorders involving the heart and its blood vessels. Many of these falls into the category of coronary heart disease, a term that itself encompasses a variety of conditions. Most coronary heart disease is due to a process known as atherosclerosis, in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the inner walls of arteries throughout the body. Over the years, scar tissue and other debris build up as more fat and cholesterol are deposited. If one or more of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood are seriously narrowed, a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD), and especially if a blood clot forms at a site of the narrowing, the heart cannot get enough oxygen from the bloodstream. The result is chest pain (angina pectoris)—and possibly a heart attack (Shepard, 2010).

Types and Causes

There are many types of heart disease. Fifteen million people in the United States have coronary heart disease, the most common and widespread form, which is caused by fatty deposits on artery walls. It often leads to angina (chest pain) and heart attack (myocardial infarction). Other common types of heart disease include cardiomyopathy (deterioration of heart muscle function), ischemic heart disease (reduced blood supply to the heart and organs), hypertensive heart disease (caused by high blood pressure), congestive heart failure (insufficient blood supply to body), and congenital heart disease (heart abnormality since birth). Conditions and habits for developing heart disease are wide ranging and include age, culture, lifestyle, menopause, obesity, smoking, and socioeconomic status. The risks of these factors are similar in men and women but gender differences have been recognized, including women-only experiences such as menopause (Phibbs, 2007).

Heart disease is most common among older people. Women are generally older than men at the disease's onset. Risk increases gradually following menopause, at around age 50, which is attributed in part to declining levels of the Estrogen hormone. Prior to menopause, Estrogen benefits cardiovascular health by, for example, maintaining blood vessel function, ...