Archive for September, 2007

Reviewed by Ashley Riffee, Community Health Education Center Intern
The African American Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart, an informative book designed to help guide women through the diverse topics relating to heart disease and strokes, is broken down into three sections. The first section explains the role that the heart, blood vessels, and brain play in a woman’s body. It includes brief descriptions, symptoms of multiple conditions and/or diagnoses that are associated with heart disease. Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that pertain to each individual. Another chapter is devoted to children and the risk factors associated with heart disease and strokes. It highlights some of the serious consequences children could have in life if they aren’t healthy.
The second section of the book breaks down each individual risk factor for heart disease and stroke and explains how each contributes to the development of heart disease and strokes. There are helpful tips and suggestions to gaining control over the more difficult risk factors like smoking, diet, and exercise. A whole chapter is dedicated to the topic of menopause. In this chapter a brief description is included that highlights common symptoms that occur with menopause and ways to diminish them through lifestyle changes. It also goes into detail on certain diseases that are sometimes associated with post menopausal women, one of which is heart disease. For the majority of African American women, understanding and coping with illnesses and diseases often include a spiritual aspect; therefore, a chapter is devoted toward spirituality and how it plays an important role in African American women’s lives from diagnosis to recovery.
The last section includes ways to muddle through the health care system. It provides how to go about finding a doctor that fits each individual, especially one whom the woman feels comfortable talking to. Also, explained are the different types of doctors commonly seen and their specializations. Finally, a list of basic areas of the body that are covered during a physical exam performed by a doctor is provided. To end the book, multiple lists of common questions that can and should be asked by a woman on a variety of subjects like weight management, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood pressure, etc. during an appointment with a doctor are presented. Resources to help a woman find additional information include: websites, locations, mailing addresses, and articles from other books and journals.
Heart disease and strokes disproportionately affect African American women, therefore this book can be very important for women to read.
Community Health Education Ctr RC682 .A39 2004 Non-circulating
To view this title or other health-related books visit the Community Health Education Center (CHEC). The CHEC is located on the ground floor of the VCUHS Gateway Building on the MCV campus.

Reviewed by Ashley Riffee, Community Health Education Center Intern
The African American Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart, an informative book designed to help guide women through the diverse topics relating to heart disease and strokes, is broken down into three sections. The first section explains the role that the heart, blood vessels, and brain play in a woman’s body. It includes brief descriptions, symptoms of multiple conditions and/or diagnoses that are associated with heart disease. Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that pertain to each individual. Another chapter is devoted to children and the risk factors associated with heart disease and strokes. It highlights some of the serious consequences children could have in life if they aren’t healthy.
The second section of the book breaks down each individual risk factor for heart disease and stroke and explains how each contributes to the development of heart disease and strokes. There are helpful tips and suggestions to gaining control over the more difficult risk factors like smoking, diet, and exercise. A whole chapter is dedicated to the topic of menopause. In this chapter a brief description is included that highlights common symptoms that occur with menopause and ways to diminish them through lifestyle changes. It also goes into detail on certain diseases that are sometimes associated with post menopausal women, one of which is heart disease. For the majority of African American women, understanding and coping with illnesses and diseases often include a spiritual aspect; therefore, a chapter is devoted toward spirituality and how it plays an important role in African American women’s lives from diagnosis to recovery.
The last section includes ways to muddle through the health care system. It provides how to go about finding a doctor that fits each individual, especially one whom the woman feels comfortable talking to. Also, explained are the different types of doctors commonly seen and their specializations. Finally, a list of basic areas of the body that are covered during a physical exam performed by a doctor is provided. To end the book, multiple lists of common questions that can and should be asked by a woman on a variety of subjects like weight management, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood pressure, etc. during an appointment with a doctor are presented. Resources to help a woman find additional information include: websites, locations, mailing addresses, and articles from other books and journals.
Heart disease and strokes disproportionately affect African American women, therefore this book can be very important for women to read.
Community Health Education Ctr RC682 .A39 2004 Non-circulating
To view this title or other health-related books visit the Community Health Education Center (CHEC). The CHEC is located on the ground floor of the VCUHS Gateway Building on the MCV campus.