2 Discussion #11 Women and Chronic Diseases & Current Event Student’s Name

2

Discussion #11 Women and Chronic Diseases & Current Event

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Number and Name

Instructor’s Name

Due Date

Discussion #11 Women and Chronic Diseases & Current Event

Interview

To understand the challenges that women with chronic illnesses face and the impacts that the diseases have on their lives, I interviewed my cousin, aged 56. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension within the past decade and regularly complained of pain in the knees. Below are her responses to the questions posed to her regarding her chronic illnesses and their impact on her life.

Question 1: You were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension within the past 10 years. What was your first reaction after hearing the news?

Response: We are told to stay optimistic about life, but for me, I always knew that at some point, I would be diagnosed with the two diseases. As you may know, my mother died when I was six due to hypertension complications. My two older sisters also have diabetes and hypertension, and I am glad that they are doing well in managing their conditions. I knew at some point that I would be diagnosed with one or both of the illnesses due to my family history and, of course, my age. Hence, the news from the doctor about both diagnoses was less surprising to me.

Question 2: How your life has been impacted ever since?

Response: I live each day at a time. I know that I am supposed to eat a healthy diet, but my addiction to Coke and pizza is not coming to an end soon. I think eating is one of the ways that I use to manage stress. I have been to several therapies and used medication to address my stress and feeding habits, but they have been unsuccessful. My younger nephews have taught me to know that I will only live once. So, I will not deny myself the good things in life since I am sick and want to live my best life now. This attitude has helped me overcome the adverse emotional and social impacts associated with the diagnosis of diabetes and hypertension. The conditions have had significant impacts on my financial status since I am uninsured and hence have to purchase medication and pay for healthcare services out of pocket. My friends and family also complain that since the diagnosis, I have been unusually silent and less interactive.

Question 3: How can I help you manage your diabetes and hypertension?

Response: I must first secure a well-paying job to afford quality healthcare services and healthy foods. I also need to see a mental health professional who can guide me in the management of the stress that I have as a result of being diagnosed with chronic illnesses.

Website Critique

I chose to critique the Brigham and Women’s Hospital website. Besides, a website provides information on the kind of services patients can get at the facility. The site also offers crucial details regarding women’s health. The link to the website that I selected to critique is https://www.brighamandwomens.org/womens-health/diseases-conditions. I chose the site since it details various illnesses that affect women throughout their lifespan. Also, the information is more reliable and credible since it is a health institution website (National Institute on Aging, 2023). I think that any woman can access the site and get to know not only the chronic illnesses that they are susceptible to but also those other minor health conditions affecting women. The fact that the site also contains a telephone number and physical address of the location of the health facility enhances the ability of women who visit the site to visit the facility in person and get screened or treated. The website is user-friendly and highly responsive, as one can maneuver through it with minimal issues.

Reference

National Institute on Aging. (2023, January 12). How to find reliable health information online. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/how-find-reliable-health-information-online#:~:text=Medicalandhealthcareorganizations

Peer Responses

Response to Peer 1

Hello Jovian, I found your interviewee to be full of positive energy. I understand that it is common for women diagnosed with chronic issues to experience emotional and financial challenges, but it is the life after the diagnosis that matters. I think that women who feel even more depressed post-diagnosis may experience reduced quality of life and live less as compared to those who embrace the illness and follow the doctor’s advice (Herrera et al., 2021). I appreciate the amount of work that you put into completing this assignment. Kudos!

Reference

Herrera, P. A., Campos-Romero, S., Szabo, W., Martínez, P., Guajardo, V., & Rojas, G. (2021). Understanding the relationship between depression and chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension: A grounded theory study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 12130. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212130

Response to Peer 2

Hello, Sophia. I agree that the MedlinePlus website is very informative for individuals looking for health information. It provides vast evidence-based information, another advantage of relying on the site for illness information. I would like to know whether you found the website easy to maneuver. Was it user-friendly and responsive?

Current Event

I completed the osteoporosis test, and my results were impressive. I have a reduced risk of developing the condition, although this may change as I grow older. The fact that I am below 30 years old, lack a family history of the health condition, and do not smoke or take excessive amounts of alcohol are some of the reasons why my risk for developing the condition is significantly low. I plan to keep my risk for the condition as low as possible by taking healthy diets that include proteins and calcium, maintaining a healthy body weight, and being physically active (International Osteoporosis Foundation, n.d.). I also intend to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

Reference

International Osteoporosis Foundation. (n.d.). Prevention. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/prevention