Prevention Plan: At Risk for Heart Disease

Prevention Plan: At risk for Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number 1 killer of American men and women however it doesn't have to be. There are many steps you can take to prevent and manage heart disease and live a long, healthy life. A heart attack occurs when an area of heart muscle dies or is permanently damaged because of an inadequate supply of oxygen to that area.(Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D, 2003, 1) This paper will discuss the various ways to prevent heart disease in a post menopausal woman.

Mary is a 55-year-old Caucasian female. She is of Italian decent and has one son. Her religious affiliation is catholic and her primary language spoken is English. This client has been employed over the past 15 years as a retail cosmetic representative for Macy's department store. She is a divorced female residing in an apartment with her small dog. She has 2 sisters who live in the same area and a brother who resides in New York. Client describes her current living situation as "stable". Client denies history of abuse or domestic violence. Client also denies using over the counter medications. Client enjoys cooking and watching TV at night with her dog. Mary reports cooking primarily Italian meals consisting of various meats and sauces as well as pasta. She also states that she rarely has time to exercise and when she does its for about 15 minutes. Client also reports smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for the last 10 years as in addition to 2 glasses of wine with dinner each night for as long as she can remember.

While obtaining a past health history it is revealed that this client was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 at the age of 47. She underwent a right breast lumpectomy along with 4 shots of chemotherapy and 6 weeks of radiation. Mary reported visiting her oncologist routinely as well as her primary care physician.

A review of Mary's family history revealed that there is a history of heart disease in her family. Her father died at 62 from a heart attack and her mother died at 60 from a stroke. This client's mother was also obese suffering from hypertension and diabetes. Mary's 2 sisters are both healthy however her brother is hypertensive and obese.

Physical Assessment:

Client: Mary Age: 55 Date: 11/3/05

Height: 5'4 Weight: