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WOMEN & HEART DISEASE
Heart disease isn't just a man's disease. Heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are devastating to women, too. Coronary heart disease continues to be a major burden to millions of people worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates tht 17 million people are at risk. In fact, coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack, is the leading cause of death for American women. Many women believe that cancer is more of a threat, but they're wrong. Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease and stroke as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Philippines. In 1998, more than 55,000 Filipinos succumbed to heart attaks and other related coronary deaths. The increase in the incidence of heart disease is
linked to a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, smoking and alcohol
drinking. Is hypertension a big problem in the Philippines? Yes! The latest local data (1998) shows a 21% prevalence. Death from heart disease rank first as cause of death in the century With a projected population of 78.4 million by year 2000, roughly 8.6 million Filipinos are hypertensive About 59% have target organ damage – heart attacks (myocardial infarction) in 3.4%, stroke in 11.5% and kidney damage in 53% Since hypertension causes minimal or no symptoms at all, only 13.6% of hypertensives are aware of their condition. This results to chronic uncontrolled states and progressive organ damage leading to death. Thus, it is important to know your blood pressure
and how to manage it. Are you at risk of hypertension? Though hypertension can develop anytime in an individual, in most cases, it does not occur solely by chance. Some are more prone to develop high blood pressure than others. Know your risk level for developing hypertension by checking which of the factors below applies to you. Your lifestyle:
Your background:
Your medical history:
The more boxes you have checked, the higher your risk of having or developing high blood pressure and its complications. Act now and have your blood pressure taken! Prevention is your best protection from the Silent Killer. What is blood pressure? Blood pressure (BP) is the force created as your heart pumps your blood and moves it through the blood vessels. This continuous blood flow provides your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. In short, it keeps you alive. Blood pressure is measured through a device called sphygmomanometer. A BP reading consists of two numbers – the top number (systolic BP) is the measurement of BP while your heart is pumping, while the bottom number (diastolic BP) is the measurement of your BP while your heart is at rest. Normal BP is a level below Systolic 140 mmHg BP normally fluctuates depending on the time of day, body position (sitting or lying down), mental stress and level of physical exertion. Thus, BP determination is standardized – at the left arm, sitting position, after 5 – 10 minutes of rest. Two or three BP levels are taken and the average is considered the final BP value. You are HYPERTENSIVE if your blood pressure taken two or three times in a two-week period is consistently . . . Systolic 140 mmHg and above What dangers await hypertensive patients? Individuals with high BP rarely have symptoms. Few complain of headache, nape pains or dizziness, which are usually mild and tolerable. Thus, hypertension is treated not only to relieve symptoms, but to prevent the development of target organ damage, which occur in those with chronic untreated, elevated blood pressure. Dangerous Complications of Uncontrolled Hypertension Stroke results when arteries in the brain burst (bleeding) or become blocked (thrombosis). Part of the brain dies and the patient becomes paralyzed Heart Attack occurs when coronary arteries in the heart are blocked. The heart muscle dies, and may stop beating. Patient dies as a consequence Heart Failure results when the heart pumps too hard for too long, trying to keep blood flowing through the body. Eventually, the heart weakens. The patient now tires easily and is always out-of-breath Kidney Failure happens when tiny vessels in the kidneys are blocked. The kidneys malfunction are unable to clean the body of wastes. Patient is slowly poisoned, becomes weak and bloated. Unless “dialyzed”, the patient will die of poisoning from his own body wastes Blindness or Impaired Vision occurs when tiny blood vessels in the eye rupture or become blocked, damaging the surrounding eye tissues What do you do once hypertension sets in? 1. Know your blood pressure Hypertension is a silent killer. You may feel no symptoms yet the body is slowly being destroyed by high blood pressure. Be proactive! Be aware of the risk! Have your BP checked regularly, at least once yearly. If your BP level is borderline or elevated (i.e., 140/90 mmHg and above), see your doctor. So together, you can make a plan to bring your BP under control. 2. Live a healthy lifestyle A healthy lifestyle keeps you less likely to develop high blood pressure. You will also feel good knowing that you are protected from hypertension. Through initially it may be hard to change your lifestyle and habits, a resolute determination, help from your friends and loved ones will make will make it easier to overcome the difficulties you may encounter along the way. Ways for a healthy lifestyle
3. Take your medication If you are consistently hypertensive despite undergoing a healthy lifestyle, your doctor will now prescribe a drug to combat your high blood pressure. Medications can safely and effectively lower high blood pressure. Your doctor can explain the medication and its side effects. He will closely monitor how well it controls your blood pressure. Most people have few side effects after beginning their medication. However, if you feel different or worse after taking them, tell your doctor right away. Text Source : http://www.doh.gov.ph/common_disease/hypertension.htm Image Source : http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/heart_noSW.html The Pill - Oral Contraceptives
What are Birth Control Pills? The Pill is the most popular type of birth control. There are many different brands of The Pill and they come in packs of 21 or 28 pills. One pill is taken every day. The first 21 pills have a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone hormones. The Pill stops ovulation, preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. The Pill also thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to enter the uterus. The hormones in the Pill prevent fertilization. The last 7 pills of a 28-day pack have no hormones and are called spacer pills. The Pill is 97-99.9% effective as birth control. It does not protect against reproductive tract infections, including HIV/AIDS. Use When started within 6 days of the start of a period or within 6 days after an abortion, The Pill is effective immediately. If the Pill is started at other times, it will be effective after one month. To lower the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, condoms can be used while taking The Pill. Starting The Pill: There are several ways to begin taking The Pill. One common way is to start on the first day of your period or the first day after an abortion. Some women prefer to start on the first Sunday after they begin their period or the first Sunday after an abortion. Continuing: Take one pill every day until you finish an entire pack. Try to link taking The Pill with a regular activity that you do at the same time every day, like eating a meal or brushing your teeth. If you have a 28-day pack, start a new pack immediately after you finish the old one. If you have a 21-day pack, take one pill every day for 21 days, no pills for 7 days, then start the new pack immediately. Cautions Some women may not be able to take The Pill because of the risk of serious health problems. Women who are over 35 and smoke or who have any of the following conditions should not take The Pill: History of heart attack or stroke Women who use The Pill have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The effects of The Pill on breast cancer are still unknown. The Pill lowers a woman's chance of developing ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Side Effects As the body adjusts to hormonal changes created by The Pill, women often experience some minor side effects, including: Irregular bleeding or spotting Drug Interactions The effectiveness of the Pill is lowered when taken with certain medications, including antibiotics, anti-seizure, tuberculosis, and migraine medications. If you are taking any medications, tell your clinician. When taking medications that may interfere with BC, consider adding a backup method of birth control, like condoms and spermicide. As with all drugs, it is useful to inform all your medical providers if you are using hormonal birth control. Danger Signs Women who experience any of the following symptoms while taking The Pill should call the clinic immediately: Abdominal pains (severe) The most common way women get pregnant while using The Pill is starting late. 1 day late starting the next package: Take 2 pills
as soon as you remember and one pill each day after. Use a backup
form of birth control for two weeks. 1 pill missed: Take it
as soon as you remember and take your next pill at your usual time.
This may mean taking two pills in one day. Missed Periods Missing a period does not always mean that you are pregnant. If you do miss a period, think about how likely a pregnancy is. Also consider the risks related to continuing birth control pills. Pregnancy is more likely: in the first few months of Pill use If you miss two periods in a row, it could either be normal or a sign of pregnancy. Pregnancy tests are recommended right away. If you become pregnant while on The Pill, there is probably no risk of birth defects. Future Fertility Women who want to become pregnant may stop using The Pill at any time. Fertility may return immediately or after a few months. Advantages Periods may be lighter or more regular. Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections,
including HIV/AIDS. You can prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse by taking the Morning After Pill, also called Emergency Contraception pills or EC. The Morning After Pill works by giving the body a short burst of synthetic hormones that disrupt the hormone patterns needed for a pregnancy to start. The most common brand name is Plan B. Also some types of regular birth control pills will work. The Moring After Pill is most effective when taken within 24-48 hours after unprotected sex, but it can work for several days. (This article only gives out information. This is not meant to prescribe. It is best to consult your OB-Gyn before taking the pill for the first time. - The Editor)
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