Heart Disease and Stroke in Canadian Women: Policy Development

Heart Disease and Stroke in Canadian Women: Policy Development

“…These strategies must be integrated, and should be monitored to assess appropriate outcomes of individual change (i.e., cognitive and behavioural) and supportive environmental change (i.e., change of the social, organizational, community and political contexts). 5,6 In research, further studies on medical issues concerning Canadian women's heart health need to be conducted to have reliable data for clinical decision making and public health recommendations. Collaborative inter-disciplinary research and national databases should be designed to investigate and monitor the efficacy of medical management issues related to the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of heart disease and stroke in Canadian women.…”

“…As well as leading directly to health outcomes, the resulting information could providein conjunction with the Canadian Framework Policy on surveillance of mortality and risk factors for CVD -a continuous, structured knowledge base to guide efforts in heart disease and stroke prevention and treatment for Canadian women. 5,6 The following recommendations were proposed and disseminated to health professionals as future directions to reduce CVD in Canadian women: 5 1. More attention must be paid to the significant burden borne by women, especially the elderly, due to morbidity and mortality from heart disease.…”

“…First, a comprehensive literature review on heart disease and stroke in Canadian women was conducted addressing: mortality rates, burden of disability, risk factor profiles, social changes affecting women's heart health, behavioural issues, and medical issues (i.e., diagnosis and treatment, and prognosis). 6 Data sources included monographs, technical reports and computer databases of published literature for the past 30 years (i.e., MEDLINE, HEALTH, CINAHL, PsychINFO, SOCIOFIL, ERIC). Second, a modified delphi technique (two iterations) was employed to solicit pertinent Canadian stakeholders (N=20) from government (i.e., Health Canada), research/academic institutions and the provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation groups for their: a) qualitative feedback on the thoroughness of the literature review; and b), suggested policy recommendations based upon the current literature.…”

<p>Cardiovascular Diseases in Women: Policies and Practices Around the Globe to Achieve Gender Equity in Cardiac Health</p>

“…67 In 2000, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, University of Ottawa, and University of Alberta released a statement report with recommendations concerning policy development for a healthier female heart so as to support researchers, health practitioners, and policymakers in creating a community where women, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, would receive effective medical care. 68 The Heart Institute in the University of Ottawa has launched the Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre (https://cwhhc.ottawaheart.ca) with the aim of reducing CVDs in women throughmotivating individuals, health professionals, and health-care workers to address this public health concern. This initiative has been disseminated at national events and on social media to generate publicity of women's health.…”

Engendering Health Disparities

“…Heart disease is greater amongst those who suffer from depression and anxiety, people who work in lowcontrol environments and those who care for large families -all factors that indicate women. 138,262,263 Social environment plays a role in the development of osteoporosis throughout the lifecycle. Stress, maternal and childhood nutrition, constrained use of public space (which limits physical activity and exposure to sunlight), and eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa all contribute to loss of bone mineral density.…”