Empowering Marginalized Communities Through Preventive Healthcare Outreach-Women's Health
The #HeartWomenHeartFamilies campaign is centered around four key areas: Health and Wellness Fairs, Preventive Healthcare Outreach, Education and Empowerment, and Community Engagement.
By addressing these critical aspects, the #HeartWomenHeartFamilies campaign seeks to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes, bringing much-needed support and resources to women and girls in rural areas.
INTRODUCING:
The primary objective behind the organization of our health and wellness fairs is to effectively address the essential needs of women and girls in the communities we are privileged to serve. These events are designed to provide consistent and constant access to a wide range of resources and information pertaining to the sustainable improvement and enrichment of their overall well-being. Education plays a vital role in these fairs, as it empowers individuals to make well-informed decisions concerning their own health. By facilitating these fairs, we seek to establish a conducive platform that equips women and girls with the necessary knowledge and resources to not only enhance their own health but also that of their families.
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Public Health Concerns Affecting Women's Health
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In rural communities, women assume the crucial responsibilities of being the primary caregivers for both their immediate and extended families. However, these women face numerous social constraints that exert significant pressure on their emotional well-being. Moreover, they also bear various obligations that adversely affect their physical health. Compounding the challenges they face, the current economic circumstances expect these women to contribute financially to their household expenses, despite the fact that many of them lack formal education and have limited employment opportunities. Consequently, with all of these expectations, women’s health takes a backseat as they place the health and well-being of their family ahead of their own. By recognizing and addressing these complexities, we can work towards empowering women to prioritize their own health without compromising their indispensable roles in family and community life.
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Image Credit: Cleveland Clinic
Heart Disease and Women
What is heart disease?
“Heart disease” refers to several types of problems that affect the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease. In CAD, plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. Over time, this buildup
causes the arteries to narrow and harden, a process called atherosclerosis. This prevents the heart from getting all the blood it needs. It can also cause a blood clot to develop. If the clot blocks blood flow to the heart it can cause a heart attack.
How do I know if I have heart disease?
Heart disease often has no symptoms you can feel, like pain or shortness of breath. Two out of every 3 women who die suddenly from heart disease did not have symptoms.
But there are some signs to watch for. Chest or arm pain or discomfort can be a symptom of heart disease or a warning sign of a heart attack. Women often describe a burning chest pain or pain in the back, neck or jaw.
Call the ambulance if you think you are having a heart attack, rather than driving yourself to the hospital.
If you think you may have heart disease, talk to your doctor.
He or she will do tests and ask about your family medical history and health behaviors like smoking, physical activity, and healthy eating..
What do I need to know about my risks for heart disease?
Certain habits and health problems raise your risk for heart disease. You can control many of the risk factors for
heart disease.
• Habits you can control include not smoking, eating healthy, getting physical activity, limiting alcohol, and reducing stress. Talk to your doctor and nurse about steps you can take to quit smoking, eat healthier, and lower your stress.
• Health problems you can improve include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and diabetes. If you have one or more of these health problems, work with your doctor or nurse to make healthy changes to lower your risk. Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to help you control your blood pressure or cholesterol.
• Risk factors you can’t control include your age, family history, and menopause. Knowing about risk
factors you can’t control can help you and your doctor decide on a plan to reduce other risk factors for heart disease.
What foods should I eat to help lower my risk of heart disease and stroke?
You should choose these foods most of the time:
• Fruits and vegetables. At least half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grains. At least half of your grains should be whole grains, such as whole wheat, oatmeal,
and brown rice.
• Fat-free or low-fat dairy products. These include milk, calcium-fortifed soy drinks are not dairy.
cheese, yogurt, and other milk products.
• Seafood, skinless poultry, lean meats, beans, eggs, and unsalted nuts.
• Oils. Sources of healthier oils and fats include avocados, olives, and canola and olive oils
What foods should I limit to lower my risk of heart disease and stroke?
You should limit:
• Saturated fats. These fats are found in foods such as pizza, ice cream, fried chicken, bacon,
hamburgers, many cakes and cookies. Check the Nutrition Facts label for saturated fat. Less than 10% of your daily calories should be from saturated fats.
• Trans fats. These fats are found mainly in commercially prepared baked goods, snack foods,
and margarine. Check the Nutrition Facts label and choose foods with no trans fats as often as possible.
• Sodium. Sodium is found in salt, but most of the sodium we eat is not from salt that we add while cooking or at the table. Most of our sodium comes from processed foods like breads and rolls, cold cuts, pizza, hot dogs, cheese, pasta dishes, and condiments (like ketchup and
mustard). Limit your daily sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams (equal to a teaspoon), unless
your doctor or nurse says something else. Check
the Nutrition Facts label for sodium. Foods with 20% or more of the “Daily Value” of sodium are high in sodium.
• Added sugars. Foods like fruit and dairy products naturally contain sugar. But you should limit
foods that contain added sugars. These foods include sodas, sports drinks, cakes, candy, and
ice cream. Check the Nutrition Facts label for added sugars and limit how much food with added sugars you eat.
How can I tell what is in the foods I eat?
The Nutrition Facts label on most packaged foods has information about how many calories and how
much saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars are in each serving.
To recognize the warning signs of stroke, remember to think
FAST
F: FACE
Ask for the person to smile. Look for a droop on one or both sides of the face.
A: ARM
Ask for the person to raise their arms. Look one arm to drop downward
S: SPEECH
Ask for the person to speak. Listen for slurred speech or trouble choosing words.
T: TIME
Call for an emergency service immediately. Look at the time so you can tell medical personnel when symptoms started.
How does stroke affect women differently than men?
- A: Stroke affects women differently than men in several ways.
More women than men die from stroke, and more women have strokes later in life. - It is twice as common for women between 20 and 39 to have a stroke than men of the same age.
- Also, more women than men have another stroke within 5 years of the first stroke.
What are the most common symptoms of stroke?
A: Stroke symptoms come on suddenly. The most
common symptoms are:
• Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of the body.
- Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause
- Strokes happen fast and are a medical emergency. If you think you or someone else may be having a stroke, use the F.A.S.T. test:
F—Face: Look in the mirror and smile, or ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Repeat a simple phrase, like “Hello, my name is ____.” Is the speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: Act fast. If you see any of these signs, call the ambulance right away. Some treatments for stroke work only if given in the first 3 hours (or up to 4½ hours for some people) after symptoms appear.
What do I need to know about my risks of stroke?
A: Certain habits and health problems raise your risk of stroke. You can control many of the risk factors
for stroke.
• Habits you can control include not smoking, eating healthy, getting physical activity, limiting alcohol, and
reducing stress.
• Health problems you can improve include
high blood pressure—the leading risk factor for stroke—high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and diabetes.
• Risk factors you can’t control include your age, family history, race and ethnicity, and menopause.
Knowing about your risk factors, including those you can’t control, can help you and your doctor or nurse
decide on a plan to lower your risk of stroke.
Heart-Healthy Eating
What foods should I eat to help lower my risk of heart disease and stroke?
You should choose these foods most of the time:
• Fruits and vegetables. At least half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grains. At least half of your grains should be whole grains, such as whole wheat, oatmeal,
and brown rice.
• Fat-free or low-fat dairy products. These include milk, calcium-fortifed soy drinks are not dairy.
cheese, yogurt, and other milk products.
• Seafood, skinless poultry, lean meats, beans, eggs, and unsalted nuts.
• Oils. Sources of healthier oils and fats include avocados, olives, and canola and olive oils
What foods should I limit to lower my risk of heart disease and stroke?
You should limit:
• Saturated fats. These fats are found in foods such as pizza, ice cream, fried chicken, bacon,
hamburgers, many cakes and cookies. Check the Nutrition Facts label for saturated fat. Less than 10% of your daily calories should be from saturated fats.
• Trans fats. These fats are found mainly in commercially prepared baked goods, snack foods,
and margarine. Check the Nutrition Facts label and choose foods with no trans fats as often as possible.
• Sodium. Sodium is found in salt, but most of the sodium we eat is not from salt that we add while cooking or at the table. Most of our sodium comes from processed foods like breads and rolls, cold cuts, pizza, hot dogs, cheese, pasta dishes, and condiments (like ketchup and
mustard). Limit your daily sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams (equal to a teaspoon), unless
your doctor or nurse says something else. Check
the Nutrition Facts label for sodium. Foods with 20% or more of the “Daily Value” of sodium are high in sodium.
• Added sugars. Foods like fruit and dairy products naturally contain sugar. But you should limit
foods that contain added sugars. These foods include sodas, sports drinks, cakes, candy, and
ice cream. Check the Nutrition Facts label for added sugars and limit how much food with added sugars you eat.
How can I tell what is in the foods I eat?
The Nutrition Facts label on most packaged foods has information about how many calories and how
much saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars are in each serving.
Emphasizing Women's Health: Prioritizing Prevention and Control of Women's Diseases.
Health disparities disproportionately impact women and girls in marginalized communities, where access to education about prevalent diseases, such as breast and cervical cancer, is often limited. It is crucial to recognize that all women and girls should have equal access to credible health information, effective preventive measures, and quality health and wellness care. Empowering women to make informed decisions about their healthcare is essential. Ensuring they have the opportunity to receive essential medical services reinforces the commitment to addressing and rectifying health inequities in these communities. By bridging these gaps, we can work towards a more inclusive and just healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of all women and girls, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
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Promoting Health: Addressing the Gender Divide by Empowering Women and Girls in Rural Communities.
Women hold indispensable roles as mothers, sisters, and friends, contributing immensely to the well-being of families and communities. Their unique perspectives, strengths, and capabilities enrich our society, fostering a sense of unity and compassion. Recognizing and valuing the pivotal role women play in shaping our world is essential.
Promoting the empowerment of women not only harnesses their potential for significant contributions, but also brings about individual benefits and cultivates a more equitable and thriving global community.This, in turn, leads to comprehensive societal advancement. We firmly believe that by uplifting women, we are actively contributing to the creation of a healthier, more equitable world for all individuals.
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Women's Health
Being a man or a woman has a significant impact on health, as a result of both biological and gender-related differences. The health of women and girls is of particular concern because, in many societies, they are disadvantaged by discrimination rooted in sociocultural factors. For example, women and girls face increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
Some of the sociocultural factors that prevent women and girls to benefit from quality health services and attaining the best possible level of health include:
- Unequal power relationships between men and women;
- Social norms that decrease education and paid employment opportunities.
- An exclusive focus on women’s reproductive roles; and
- Potential or actual experience of physical, sexual and emotional violence.
While poverty is an important barrier to positive health outcomes for both men and women, poverty tends to yield a higher burden on women and girls’ health due to, for example, feeding practices (malnutrition) and use of unsafe cooking fuels (COPD).
“Embrace the power of women, nurture the strength of families, and watch as healthcare promotion and disease prevention flourish in the heart of our communities.”
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