Organization
for Women
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National
Organization for Women |
HEALTH ISSUES |
Women’s health is more than an one month
campaign, it is a twelve-month effort for all women. With this page
we will focus on heart attacks and Ohio legislation that addresses
women’s health.
First of all, the most important things you need
to know about a hear attack are the symptoms. The warning signs of a
heart attack include:
Chest discomfort. Most
heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that
lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It
can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other
areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in
one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath.
This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can
occur before the chest discomfort or even alone.
Other signs: These may
include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
If you have any of these symptoms contact your doctor or go to a
hospital immediately.
If
you would like a risk assessment of your cardiovascular health the
American Heart Association has a short questionnaire on their web
page that can do just that. Visit www.americanheart.org
Statistics on
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) back-up how important it is for you to
be concerned about your heart health. Consider: One
in four females has some form of cardiovascular disease.
Since
1984, the number of CVD deaths for females has exceeded those for
males.
In the United States in 2002, all cardiovascular diseases combined claimed the lives of 493,623 females while all forms of cancer combined to kill 268,503 females. Breast cancer claimed the lives of 41,514 females; lung cancer claimed 67,542
In 2002 cardiovascular disease was the first listed diagnosis of 3,164,000 females discharged from short-stay hospitals. Discharges include people both living and dead.
The 2002 overall death rate from CVD was 320.5. Death rates were
265.6 for white females
368.1 for black females.
Keeping healthy with CVD or other health problems involves many components directed by the Ohio Revised Code. They include such items as your insurance plan, prescription program, facilities, home health care, life sustaining choices, tax implications, and Medicaid requirements.
In the current Ohio legislative session there are proposed bills (House Bill-HB, Senate Bill-SB) that may greatly affect your health care. Changes in insurance coverage are proposed in HB 5, HB 86, HB 263, SB 68, and SB 109. State Medicaid changes are proposed in HB 43, HB 55 and SB 50. Prescription drug coverage is very important component in keeping you healthy. Changes for drugs covered and availability are proposed in H 89, HB 112, and SB 14. Hospital changes are proposed in HB 196 and HB 197. This session includes a bill that indirectly affects your health, it is a bill that proposed an Ohio tax deductibility for medical expenses, HB 46. HB 216, sponsored by Rep. Keith L. Faber presents requirements on life sustaining treatment including who may withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.
For more information on any of the above proposed Ohio legislation visit the web site www.legislature.state.oh.us At the State site you can find a copy of the bill, how it will change the current Ohio Revised Code, where the bill is in the process of passing, and how much it will cost to implement. Further information can be found by contacting the bill’s sponsor. This person can also be found at the state’s web site.
After doing some research and feeling that you would like to comment on a bill, the easiest way is to contact your Ohio House or Senate representative. You can write them a letter, email a message, or call. For help in becoming an advocate on legislation visit www.ohiowomeninc.org This site can help you with the basics on writing a letter, finding your representative’s and senator’s contact information, and planning a face-to-face meeting.
A more formal approach for commenting on a bill is to testify at a committee hearing on the bill. Health bills are usually assigned to the House Insurance Committee, House Health Committee, or Senate Health, Human Services & Aging Committee. For more information on testifying, contact the chairperson of the committee where the bill is assigned and ask questions. The chairperson can share with you the committee meeting date, time, location and the meeting’s agenda as well as information on composing your testimony and how many copies to bring to the hearing.
Symptoms and statistics on Cardiovascular Disease including heart attacks and strokes are important for you to know. Contacting your legislators to let them know how you feel about proposed legislation is also important for your health care. Educate yourself on some of the listed health bills and take a pro-active stance to take care of yourself. Knowledge is power.
If you need more information and/or support with
any legislation contact Ohio National Organization for Women (NOW),
PO Box 8134, Columbus, OH 43201 ohionow@ohionow.org
or www.ohionow.org
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