WOMAN IN MENOPAUSE 10 Gerontology and Nutrition: Effects of Heart Disease on the Body of a Woman in Menopause Name Institution Name Date Running head: WOMAN IN MENOPAUSE 1 Effects of Heart Disease on the Body of a Woman in Menopause Heart diseases include abnormal heart rhythms, heart values abnormalities, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. It is a group of diseases in which it is associated with men in United States. However, the number of women reporting the problem continues to increase annually. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease killed around 2999,578 women in 2017 meaning 1 out of every 5 female deaths. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death for white women and African Americans. Among the Alaska Native and American Indians women, cancer and heart disease contribute to a similar amount of deaths. For Pacific Islanders and Hispanics, cancer is the first cause of death while heart disease is the second health problem. The number of women with coronary heart disease who are above 20 years accounts for 6.2 percent of the USA population. Many women might not experience any symptoms include pain in the back or upper abdomen, pain in the throat, jaw, neck, and angina. Other systems include nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The paper discusses heart diseases with a focus on elderly women (women in menopause), perception of heart diseases, and nutritional preferences. Physiological (Body) System and Impact of Heart Diseases to the Body The heart is a complex organ whose main responsibility is pumping blood through the body through a system made of nodes, valves, chambers, and muscle layers. The heart contains four chambers that allow pumping of blood into the body and out of the body (Mattioli et al. 2017). The heart also has its own circulation system in addition to ability to receive electric implies, which makes the heart relax and contact (Kaur & Kochar, 2015). These processes lead to cardiac cycle. Ineffectiveness and problems such as clogged arteries to infections affect the health of an individual leading to problems such as strokes and heart diseases. The various diseases associated with the heart affects a person in different ways. Coronary heart disease (CHD) kills many people in the USA and it is the common type of heart. A substance called plaque usually builds up in an individual’s heart arteries. The presence of the plaque continues to clog the pipe, which occurs over time (Luzia et al. 2015). Clogged blood flow means that the body does not get enough oxygen leading to chest problems such as angina (Muka et al. 2016). Without enough oxygen, the body’s cell cannot function effectively, and a complete block of artery leads to heart attack. Some signs in women include pressure or tightness in addition to shortness of breath. Heart valve disease guides the blood throughout the heart. The process involves flaps opening and closing with each heartbeat. It is part of the ...

1. WOMAN IN MENOPAUSE 10
Gerontology and Nutrition: Effects of Heart Disease on the
Body of a Woman in Menopause
Name
Institution Name
Date
Running head: WOMAN IN MENOPAUSE 1
Effects of Heart Disease on the Body of a Woman in Menopause
Heart diseases include abnormal heart rhythms, heart values
abnormalities, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. It is a
group of diseases in which it is associated with men in United
States. However, the number of women reporting the problem
continues to increase annually. According to Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease killed around
2999,578 women in 2017 meaning 1 out of every 5 female
deaths. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death for
white women and African Americans. Among the Alaska Native
and American Indians women, cancer and heart disease
contribute to a similar amount of deaths. For Pacific Islanders
and Hispanics, cancer is the first cause of death while heart
disease is the second health problem. The number of women
with coronary heart disease who are above 20 years accounts for
6.2 percent of the USA population. Many women might not
experience any symptoms include pain in the back or upper

2. abdomen, pain in the throat, jaw, neck, and angina. Other
systems include nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The paper
discusses heart diseases with a focus on elderly women (women
in menopause), perception of heart diseases, and nutritional
preferences.
Physiological (Body) System and Impact of Heart Diseases to
the Body
The heart is a complex organ whose main responsibility is
pumping blood through the body through a system made of
nodes, valves, chambers, and muscle layers. The heart contains
four chambers that allow pumping of blood into the body and
out of the body (Mattioli et al. 2017). The heart also has its own
circulation system in addition to ability to receive electric
implies, which makes the heart relax and contact (Kaur &
Kochar, 2015). These processes lead to cardiac cycle.
Ineffectiveness and problems such as clogged arteries to
infections affect the health of an individual leading to problems
such as strokes and heart diseases. The various diseases
associated with the heart affects a person in different ways.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) kills many people in the USA and
it is the common type of heart. A substance called plaque
usually builds up in an individual’s heart arteries. The presence
of the plaque continues to clog the pipe, which occurs over time
(Luzia et al. 2015). Clogged blood flow means that the body
does not get enough oxygen leading to chest problems such as
angina (Muka et al. 2016). Without enough oxygen, the body’s
cell cannot function effectively, and a complete block of artery
leads to heart attack. Some signs in women include pressure or
tightness in addition to shortness of breath.
Heart valve disease guides the blood throughout the heart. The
process involves flaps opening and closing with each heartbeat.
It is part of the sound that a person hears while the heart is
beating. Three problems, which can affect the heart, are
stenosis, backflow, and atresia (Luzia et al. 2015). Stenosis
prevents the effective flow of blood; backflow encourages the
blood to move backward instead of forward and atresia is no

3. opening meaning the blood cannot flow (Muka et al. 2016).
Symptoms include murmur, swishing and whooshing sounds,
which cause blood flow problems and heart work harder. Other
impacts on the body include shortness of breath, more tired than
usual, swollen legs, belly, and ankles.
Arrhythmia is when the heart skips a beat or flutters. A
condition makes changes to an individual heart even though it is
harmless. The heartbeat of an individual is associated with short
bursts of electricity and minor changes in such an arrangement
are not a problem (Mattioli et al. 2017). However, serious
arrhythmia might forces the body not to function effectively,
which causes serious problems (Kaur & Kochar, 2015). The
serious symptoms include the heart beating faster or slower.
The outcome is inability of body organs getting the right
amount of oxygen (Muka et al. 2016). A person might also feel
lightheaded, chest pain or even faint. The worsening of the
condition is called fibrillation, which is a condition that makes
the heart to quiver, preventing it from pumping blood.
A heart infection is viruses, bacteria, or other germs that cause
heart infection. The infections can affect an individual slowly
while other times, it comes with force, which results in life-
threatening conditions (Muka et al. 2016). The symptoms of
infection depend on the type of infection (Luzia et al. 2015).
For example, a person with replacement heart value and the
region is infected; the germs build around the area. Some
symptoms of heart infections include tiredness, shortness of
breath, fever, and changes in heart rhythm.
Differences in Diagnosis Based on Time and Impact on the
Body System in addition to Person’s Attitude towards the
Disease
Understanding the history of the heart condition, and the
components associated with the health condition is important. In
situations that a female patient has been diagnosed for 25 years,
the information of such a patient is well known meaning
management of the problem is effective (Mattioli et al. 2017).
However, those individuals who are recently diagnosed create

4. problems because of lack of information, confounding factors
and other variables, which impact the health of the patient
(Kaur & Kochar, 2015). The history of a patient who has had
the disease for more than 25 years contains elements such as
related diseases: for example, diabetes and obesity. Therefore,
having long-term knowledge is important in better management
of the problem compared to situation in which limited
information is available.
The person suffering from heart disease for 25 years knows the
numerous changes that have occurred. It includes changes in the
arteries and veins including clogging (Mattioli et al. 2017). The
type of heart disease comes with its respective complications
meaning the side effects and challenges differ (Luzia et al.
2015). For example, infection leads to additional complications
such as hardening of the heart, which prevents it from pumping
the blood to other parts of the body. The role of heart is to
pump blood: the blood contains nutrients and oxygen.
Individuals suffering from heart disease for more than 25 years
would have difficulty and challenges in accomplishing their
assigned duties and responsibilities.
The attitude of the patient also plays an important role. The
patient should recognize the nature of the condition, and other
factors associated with the disease. The aim is to create
awareness and understanding of the condition (Mattioli et al.
2017). The attitude also points to the management of the
condition, and the decision to advance medical advice (Muka et
al. 2016). In addition, understanding the condition and
embracing the right practices lead to better management of the
condition (Kaur & Kochar, 2015). Therefore, those patients who
are unable to manage their condition have an increased risk of
developing other health complications. However, a positive
attitude is important in making a patient adhere to medical
recommendations. In addition, such a patient embraces the
ideology of best practices.
Older Woman with Well-Controlled Heart Disease and an Older
Woman with Uncontrolled Heart Disease and Perceptions

5. After menopause, women have an increased risk of heart
disease. One of the reasons is attributed to decrease levels of
female hormone estrogen, which starts at the age of 50 years.
Estrogen is lined with good cholesterol (higher levels of high-
density lipoprotein) and lower bad cholesterol (Mattioli et al.
2017). The inability of a woman’s body to produce natural
estrogen leads to increase in production of bad cholesterol and a
decrease in good cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart
disease (Luzia et al. 2015). The life expectancy of women in
America is around 79 years and the continued increase in age
automatically means a person becomes susceptible to diseases
and other health complications. These conditions affect the
women in different ways, which also references the differences
between an older woman with well-controlled heart disease and
an older woman with uncontrolled heart disease.
The woman with well-controlled heart disease can reverse the
health implications. Maintaining is the most important aspect
but it is possible to reverse the entire problem. Well maintained
heart disease also points to the need for sustainability when it
comes to the treatment regime (Kaur & Kochar, 2015). The
objective is to create a platform in which the medical concerns
of the patients are concern, which includes prevention of
worsening of the condition (Mattioli et al. 2017). It is possible
through recognizing that a well-maintained condition prevents
opportunity based health conditions. Uncontrolled heart disease
leads to additional complications such as inability of an
individual to exercise and engage in other physical related
activities. The person is also vulnerable meaning additional
health complications can be reported.
Special Nutrition Related Considerations
Elderly women patients with heart disease have decreased
natural prediction of estrogen. It means these individuals do not
have enough good type of cholesterol. The objective is to
increase the good cholesterol to meet the developmental
requirements. The choice of nutrition directly affects the level
of cholesterol (Mattioli et al. 2017). Elderly women should take

6. olive oil, which addresses complications associated with LDL
cholesterol. Eating beans, legumes, and whole grains is also
important in managing the health of such individuals. High fiber
food and fatty fish are also crucial for the health and
development of elderly women. Even younger women would
benefit from such a diet.
Thirty-five years would women with heart disease are also
susceptible to numerous complications and eating the right diet
is important. Diet and exercising are important for such a
segment. For example, age implies that women might continue
being productive, which increases pressure on heart disease and
condition (Luzia et al. 2015). Therefore, the vigorous lifestyle
and the energetic conditions require a balanced diet that
incorporates carbohydrates for energy, proteins for muscles, and
vitamins to improve the immune system (Ra, Kim & Jeong,
2019). In addition, to the food for elderly persons, the segment
should recognize the importance of incorporating diets with
variety of food. For example, eating more legumes, whole
grains, fruits, and vegetables is important (Kaur & Kochar,
2015). Choosing fat calories is also important in managing the
health condition. For instance, it is important to limit saturated
fat, avoid artificial fats, and carefulness when it comes to fats
and other spicy ingredients (Mattioli et al. 2017). Serving a
variety of protein-rich foods including vegetable sources of
protein, fish and lean meat is crucial. Blood cholesterol levels
can increase due to consuming high-fat dairy products and red
meat especially women who have already reported the health
condition. Taking enough water is also important in addition to
including the right kind of carbs such as sweet potatoes, quinoa,
oatmeal, and brown rice.
The elderly and young think about numerous things when it
comes to their health requirements. Heart disease has a high risk
of death meaning the individuals would prefer a diet that
increases their lifespan (Mattioli et al. 2017). The elderly want
to stay with their grandchildren while the 35 years old want to
support their children (Muka et al. 2016). In addition, the

7. medical expenses are usually high meaning that it creates a
platform for socio-economic problems. Issues such as caring
and supporting the sick also raise numerous concerns for both
age segments.
The older person’s lifestyle is different from a younger person's
lifestyle. The older person is unable or faces challenges in
exercising. The movement of elderly persons is also limited
meaning such individuals are unable to control their health
conditions and requirements (Ra, Kim & Jeong, 2019). The
digestive system is also affected and other parts that require
effective utilization of food are challenging (Kaur & Kochar,
2015). Moreover, chewing and processing food requires
exercise. A younger person is exposed to the world meaning
such an individual wants to enjoy their respective lifestyles
(Luzia et al. 2015). It includes taking alcohol, smoking, eating
high cholesterol food, and other behaviors that contribute to
increased heart disease risk (Mattioli et al. 2017). Stress is also
a major problem for developing individuals because of day to
day activities. A combination of stress and poor dietary
requirements affects the health and increases risk of heart
diseases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, heart diseases have been associated with men for
long but the number of women continues to increase. The
changing lifestyles lead to an increase in heart diseases. Various
heart diseases exist ranging from heart attack to heart infection,
which affects differently the young and the elderly. The
attitudes and perceptions of sick persons determine and
influence the success of the treatment plans. Having a positive
and right attitude automatically contributes to the betterment of
health of an individual. Heart diseases affect the body of an
individual in different ways including the inability to breath,
lack of oxygen distribution, clogging and inability of an
individual to accomplish their respective duties.

8. References
Kaur, H., & Kochar, R. (2015). Obesity and Menopause: A New
Nutritional Concern. ARC J Nutr Growth, 1(1), 8-13.
Luzia, L. A., Aldrighi, J. M., Damasceno, N. R. T., Sampaio, G.
R., Soares, R. A. M., Silva, I. T., ... & da Silva Torres, E. A. F.
(2015). Fish oil and vitamin E change lipid profiles and anti-
LDL-antibodies in two different ethnic groups of women
transitioning through menopause. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 32(1),
165-174.
Mattioli, A. V., Coppi, F., Migaldi, M., Scicchitano, P.,
Ciccone, M. M., & Farinetti, A. (2017). Relationship between
Mediterranean diet and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease
in a population of pre-menopausal women. Nutrition,
Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 27(11), 985-990.
Muka, T., Oliver-Williams, C., Colpani, V., Kunutsor, S.,
Chowdhury, S., Chowdhury, R., ... & Franco, O. H. (2016).
Association of vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms with
risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-
analysis. PloS One, 11(6), e0157417.
Ra, J. S., Kim, H. S., & Jeong, Y. H. (2019). Associated Factors
of Ischemic Heart Disease Identified Among Post-Menopausal
Women. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 10(2),

9. 56.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019, May
14). Heart disease: Women and Heart Disease. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm
Gerontology and Nutrition
Writing Assignment
Total possible points: 200
Intro: One in every 4 Americans will die of heart disease.
While the incidence for men has gotten better, for women it has
not.
Instructions:
In a minimum 8-9 pages (includes cover and reference page),
double spaced document, APA format. Discuss the effects of
Heart Disease on the body of a woman in menopause. You are
always welcome to go over 9 pages, (do what you need to do to
get your questions answered). Be sure to answer each of the
following questions in your paper.
1) Which physiological (body) systems are affected by heart
disease and how are they affected. What does the disease do to
the body that is negative. (do not discuss genetic heart
deformities of the heart please)
2) What are the differences to consider if the female patient has
had the heart disease diagnosis for 25 years or was recently
diagnosed? What does their body look like inside and what is
the person thinking if they have had it 25 years? What about
newly diagnosed women? This question is more about logic and
thinking about the body systems and the persons attitude
towards the disease but there are articles that discuss the mental
part of this diagnosis.
3) What is the difference between an older woman with well-
controlled heart disease and an older woman with uncontrolled

10. heart disease? What are they thinking and how are they acting?
What is happening inside their body?
4) What special nutrition related considerations might there be
for the elderly woman patient with heart disease as opposed to a
35 year old female patient with heart disease? What are they
thinking and how are they acting? How is an older person’s
lifestyle different than a younger person’s?
5) Please include a cover sheet and reference page so minimum
length is 8 pages.
Appropriate sources for current research on this topic are peer-
reviewed research articles (try searching in PubMed via the
library – The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
is an example of a peer-reviewed journal, or your book, or the
references in your book at the end of this chapter, or American
Heart Association, or American Medical Association). Cite all
your sources in the text paragraphs like this ex: (Robinson,
2014) and you should have a lot of these in your paper. Please
also put the full reference at the end on the reference page in
APA format. If you don’t know already, peer reviewed means
that other health professionals have reviewed it and think the
document is legit. Non-peer reviewed is someone just writing
their opinion in an article or blog and it is just that…their
opinion. Do not use opinions unless it is yours. If citing from
web pages they must be legit sources. Again, can you go over 9
pages?.... of course, make it good. I would love the idea that
you enjoyed writing this and learned a lot and did not think it
was a chore and just counting pages and words. Remember,
your mother, grandmother, aunts, neighbors, patients, current
and future spouses and maybe even yourself might be one of the
1 in 4 afflicted. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.
I will be looking for the following criteria in your paper.
1. Were all of the questions above answered satisfactorily? (120
points)
2. Were appropriate sources (peer-reviewed articles) utilized for
research? (40 points) Minimum of 3 and your book is NOT one

11. of the 3. Use the UH library people to help.
3. Were all sources cited and included in APA formatted
bibliography? (20 points) (APA format is on Blackboard if you
need to look at it)
4. Entertainment value (was it interesting)? (20 points)
Again, if having problems finding sources, at the end of the
cardiovascular chapter in the book has some, also the American
Heart Association or the AARP websites are good starts, look
under research or articles tab. And also go to the UH library
and search under PUBMED. The librarians can help you.