Wednesday, July 03, 2013  |  Register  |  Login |
Subscribe to our newsletter
Home    Back
Spotlight On:

Job Search
 


The Role of A Physical Therapist for Heart Disease Awareness in Women

Last Updated Oct 2012


By: Son Trinh, DPT

heart diseaseIt’s good to be informed. As physical therapists, our role is to educate ourselves then pass on the information to our patients. I’ve come across many women, patients, and co-workers who recognize the dangers of breast cancer and the necessity of research to cure it.

Clearly, breast cancer is serious business and the stats are grim. The lifetime prevalence of 1 in 8 and number of deaths of 40,000 per year.
 
But consider this, lung cancer claims 70,000 women a year which is more than breast, ovarian and uterine cancers combined. Of those diagnosed with lung cancer, only 1 in 8 survives. The public consciousness seems misinformed on this. 
 
Heart disease is another poorly understood killer. Every year, heart disease claims the lives of 500,000 women. That’s 1000% more deaths than breast cancer. People seem to think breast cancer is the biggest monster out there gobbling up women’s lives while the real boogey man disease lives in virtual anonymity.
 
role of a physical therapistWhy does this happen? Why would such a big health problem get such short shrift? Part of the problem is the lack of fulfillment on our role as a physical therapist. Another concern is the stereotype that only men get heart attacks. The fact is heart disease doesn’t dabble in gender politics. Whether you’re from Venus or Mars, the odds are pretty even.
 
If you’re a woman, your sirens should be ringing, particularly if you have a family history. Do you like to wash down your corn-fed Angus cuts with a keg of beer and exercise by walking from the couch to the kitchen during commercial breaks? If this describes you or your patients, beware, but don’t despair. 
 
Giving up leads to paralysis and paralysis doesn’t help. What helps is educating patients and passing on the information in your physical therapy practice. Keep in mind that the step after information is informed action. Unlike breast cancer which is largely genetic and difficult to prevent, heart disease responds to the following life-saving changes:
  • Smoking cessation
     
  • A well-balanced diet, low in saturated and trans fat
     
  • Regular physical therapy exercise
     
  • Weight loss
     
  • Stress reduction
     
  • Social support
     
  • Decreased alcohol consumption
health problemThose who campaign against breast cancer do a wonderful job of raising awareness about a terrible disease. Our role as a physical therapist is to applaud these efforts and replicate them with heart disease, spreading the word the way rumors spread in the girl’s middle school bathrooms across America. First whispered conspiratorially, the message gets passed on via three very simple words: “Pass it on!”
 

Did you like this article? Share it!

Rate this:
 Be the first to rate this article.  (you must be logged in to rate articles)
Recent Comments (there are 4 comments)
Thanks for doing YOUR part Kathy! We're all in this together and every person we reach could be a person saved. Keep up the good work!
Posted By: Son T
You can go to WomenHeart.org and see that these issues you raise are not new and are paramount in getting women to recognize their right to early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment for their hearts. Here's a link to a brief interview I did recently and spontaneously that will help you to understand that we are all in this together. Good for you to get this out there! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0f6gJLSbXA Plus I was an OT before switching to another speciality.
Posted By: Kathy Kastan
Thank you for writing this article about the #1 killer of American women. If your readers want to learn more they can go to womenheart.org. It's critically important that health care providers read the new evidence based guidelines just published in Circulation. Awareness must continue to improve for the public but also with health care providers. There's no reason so many of us have to perish from this dreaded disease. Thanks again!
Posted By: Kathy Kastan
Very informative article, every woman should read this. Thank you for sharing!
Posted By: Raquel Rothe


Share |