Heart health in women is a very serious issue.

The American Heart Association writes on

their website that, the fact is: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths

each year. Thats approximately one woman every minute! But it doesnt affect all women

alike, and the warning signs for women arent the same in men. There are several

misconceptions about heart disease in women, and they could be putting you at risk. The

American Heart Associations Go Red For Women movement advocates for more research and

swifter action for womens heart health for this very reason. On their webpage titled Heart

Disease Statistics at a Glance, they list several need to know facts in regards to the prevalence

of heart disease in women: -Cardiovascular diseases and stroke cause 1 in 3 womens deaths

each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. -An estimated 44 million women

in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases. -90% of women have one or more risk

factors for heart disease or stroke. -Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men. -80%

of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education.-

Fewer women than men survive their first heart attack. -The symptoms of heart attack can be

different in women vs. men, and are often misunderstood even by some physicians.

Harvard Health Publications write in their article Race and ethnicity: Clues to your heart

disease risk that In the United States, nearly half of all black adults have some form of

cardiovascular disease, compared with about one-third of all white adults,(2015). The article

goes on to explain that Hispanics were about 25% less likely to die of heart disease than

whites. The article also states that recent immigrants from East Asian countries tend to have

lower rates of heart disease than other Americans. However, their childrenwho often adopt

Western cultural practiceshave higher rates of obesity and other cardiac risk factors, which
underscores the role of lifestyle habits on heart health, (2017). In order to explain how these

statistics directly affects Shelby County and the surrounding counties served by Major Health,

Shelby County experiences 206.7 heart health related deaths, Decatur County falls at 226.7

heart health related deaths, and Rush County comes in with 234.7 heart health related deaths

per 100,000. According to the center for disease control and prevention, there were 83

recorded deaths of females in Shelby County between 2008 and 2009

(cdc.gov/communityhealth).

Equipped with this knowledge in my position at Major Health Partners, it becomes

necessary to realize that this issue will not disappear on its own. With this acknowledgment,

involvement with my organization to combat this health concern becomes the only ethical

choice in this matter.

Major Health Partners (MHP) should develop a strategic communication campaign

centered around heart health in women. The fact remains, no one in our community has been

exempt from the likelihood of being affected by heart disease in women either directly or

through someone they know. Statics show that heart disease claims responsibility for 1 out of 3

deaths in women. Indiana falls among the highest in the country for percentage of adults who

reported being told by a health professional that they have angina or coronary heart disease, as

stated in Americas Health Rankings report for 2016.

There are three key publics that this particular campaign would be geared toward. They

include women in our community, loved ones/caregivers, and outside agencies to garner

partners to further the campaign (i.e. the Casino in town who has a history of partnering with
MHP to host events and charities). The campaign would focus on arming women with facts in

regards to their heart health and what they can do to prevent and/or reduce their risks of the

onset of cardiovascular disease. The steps taken to reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease

would also be necessary information for loved ones/caregivers to have readily available. The

information will ideally promote the caregivers responsibility to their loved ones. In turn, this

will assist encourage them to become engaged in the campaign. Finally, the campaign will

provide information to outside agencies in regards to how prevalent and the effect that this

issue currently has in our community. This would ideally promote their organization to engage

in corporate social responsibility and become involved in the campaign to ensure its success.

-Whitney Scott
References:

2016 Annual Report: Measure: Heart Health Indiana. (n.d.). Retrieved May 13, 2017, from
http://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/2016-annual-
report/measure/CHD/state/IN

Association, A. H. (2016, February 04). Heart Disease Statistics at a Glance - Go Red for Women.
Retrieved May 14, 2017, from https://www.goredforwomen.org/about-heart-
disease/facts_about_heart_disease_in_women-sub-category/statistics-at-a-glance/

Association, A. H. (n.d.). Facts About Heart Disease in Women - Go Red For Women. Retrieved
May 14, 2017, from https://www.goredforwomen.org/fight-heart-disease-women-go-
red-women-official-site/about-heart-disease-in-women/facts-about-heart-disease/

Hussain, A. (2011). CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: PROS and CONS. Pakistan & Gulf
Economist, 30(27), 18-19. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/docview/1023136850?accountid=13360

Indicator. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2017, from

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/CommunityHealth/profile/currentprofile/IN/Shelby/877

Publications, H. H. (n.d.). Race and ethnicity: Clues to your heart disease risk? Retrieved May 13,
2017, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/race-and-ethnicity-clues-to-
your-heart-disease-risk