Introduction
Heart disease is a common problem affecting many postmenopausal women (Tharpe, Farley, & Jordan, 2013). Numerous changes take place during menopause. This discussion gives a detailed description of heart disease among different postmenopausal women. New evidence-based practices will be identified in order to prevent this disease. Such practices will be compared with the ones supported by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).
Description of Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Women
Menopause is “common in women aged between 45 and 55” (Tharpe et al., 2013, p. 38). Menopause is associated with reduced production of estrogen thus causing both menstrual and physical changes. This reduction of estrogen exposes women to heart disease. New changes “such as increase in fibrinogen and cholesterol are associated with menopause” (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 12). Fibrinogen causes blood to clot thus increasing chances of getting stroke. Inactiveness and lack of physical activities also promote the development of different cardiovascular diseases.
Assessing and Managing Heart Disease
The article “Coronary Heart Disease Mortality and Hormone Therapy Before and After the Women’s Health Initiative” offers new insights that can be used to prevent cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has the potential to protect more women from heart disease (Tuomikoski et al., 2014). HRT should be availed “to women who are going through menopause” (Tuomikoski et al., 2014, p. 951). The therapy increases the level of estrogen thus supporting the normal functioning of the body. The authors go further to support the relevance of healthful lifestyles. Positive health behaviors can reduce the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. The article also identifies other health problems associated with heart disease such as diabetes and obesity. Patients should therefore use the best strategies in order to deal with various health problems.
Comparison of the Best Practices
According to the WHI, several approaches should be used to prevent heart disease in many aging women. Clinicians should begin by identifying the major predictors of heart disease (Women Health Initiative, 2013). Such predictors include “reduction of estrogen, changing levels of fibrinogen, increment of cholesterol” (Boukhris et al., 2014, p. 4). The Women’s Health Initiative also encourages women to develop the best healthful behaviors in order to deal with different diseases (Women Health Initiative, 2013). Such behaviors include eating balanced diets and engaging in exercises. On the other hand, the above article focuses on the effectiveness of HRT. This approach can increase estrogen levels in women undergoing menopause. The therapy will reduce chances of getting the disease.
Using the Current Best Practices in Clinical Care
The above discussions explain how postmenopausal women can use appropriate practices to deal with different heart diseases. The article offers a powerful strategy characterized by HRT and lifestyle changes. Similar lifestyle changes are also supported by the WHI. That being the case, the strategies described in the above article should be embraced in clinical practice. Postmenopausal women should collaborate with their doctors in order to get the best hormonal therapies (Boukhris et al., 2014). They should also embrace appropriate lifestyles and diets in order to achieve the best health outcomes.
Conclusion
Evidence-based ideas should always be used to improve the quality of health care. The above article presents a powerful approach that can prevent heart disease in postmenopausal women. The HRT approach can be combined with other preventive measures in order to support the health outcomes of many women (McSweenery, Pettey, Souder, & Rhoads, 2011). HRT should therefore be combined with proper exercises and diets. This strategy will eventually deal with cardiovascular disease.
Reference List
Boukhris, M., Tomasello, S., Marza, F., Bregante, S., Pluchinotta, F., & Galassi, A. (2014). Coronary Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Women with Type II Diabetes Mellitus and the Impact of Estrogen Replacement Therapy: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Endocrinology, 1(1), 1-8. Web.
Lewis, J., Radavelli-Bagatini, S., Rejnmark, L., Chen, J., Simpson, J., Lappe, J.,…Prince, R. (2014). The Effects of Calcium Supplementation on Verified Coronary Heart Disease Hospitalization and Death in Postmenopausal Women: A Collaborative Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 1(1), 1-26. Web.
McSweenery, J., Pettey, C., Souder, E., & Rhoads, S. (2011). Disparities in Women’s Cardiovascular Health. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 40(3), 362-371. Web.
Tharpe, N., Farley, C., & Jordan, R. (2013). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery and Women’s Health. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Tuomikoski, P., Lyytinen, H., Korhonen, P., Hoti, F., Vattulainen, P., Gissler, M.,…Mikkola, T. (2014). Coronary Heart Disease Mortality and Hormone Therapy Before and After the Women’s Health Initiative. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 124(5), 947-953. Web.
Women Health Initiative: WHI Background and Overview. (2013). Web.