Current statistics reveal coronary heart disease (CHD) is the number one cause of death among United States women. Experts estimate that 1 in 2 women will die of heart disease or stroke, compared with 1 in 25 women who will die of breast cancer (AHRQ Publication No. 01-P016). The information offered within this research paper will provide a general overview of coronary heart disease among women and current research on how certain type of personalities are more prone to suffer from this disease, a basic over view of the most current health psychology and treatment.
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Heart Disease.
Before 1900 and the Industrial Revolution people made their living through some sort of manual labor. In this era, it was uncommon for people to die of heart disease, especially women. Walking was the major means of transportation. Laundry was scrubbed and wrung by hand. The backyard garden was the major produce stand. Stairs were climbed, carpets were beaten, and butter was churned. Today, the age of technology has made life easier; however, many of the conveniences that we enjoy have made people more prone to heart disease because of the lack of physical activity. .
Coronary heart disease (CHD) was responsible for one of every five deaths in the United States in 1997. Early on, this disease was thought of as primarily affecting men. We now know that CHD also affects a substantial number of women. For example, 42 percent of women who have heart attacks die within one year compared with 24 percent of men (AHRQ Publication No. 01-P016). The reasons for this are not well understood. One factor is that women tend to get heart disease later in life than do men and are more likely to have coexisting, chronic conditions. .
Definition.
Coronary heart disease (or coronary artery disease) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart (coronary arteries). Coronary disease usually results from the build up of fatty material and plaque.