The illness I decided to choose Coronary Heart Disease as it is a prevalent illness in which many Americans and individuals world wide are affected by. I have family members that have experienced heart problems and I have had interest in this illness as I attempt to stay physically active and know the importance of cardiovascular exercise regarding a healthy heart. Although I have not had any first hand experiences with someone in my family that had a fatal experience, it is a widely discussed topic, especially with the rise of individuals who are overweight as well as the rise in obesity. This is especially interesting to me as I would like to pursue a career in Health Administration where a more social oriented perspective of medicine and its benefits become useful for managing relations with other health organizations.
This website will exhibit the different approaches of Medical Anthropology including bio/ecological, ethnomedical, experimental, critical, applied, as well as a reflection of how the materials in this course have influenced my thoughts and opinions about medical anthropology. The importance of non-medical factors includes views where medical anthropology incorporates more than just a clinical sense of physiology and pathophysiology such as epidemiology and psychological aspects. With these interests encompassing social factors affecting this illness along with the distribution and control of such diseases, an anthropologist is more likely in discovering the source and control of a disease and not just contributing to the cure of symptoms. Through the study of social interactions with varying populations around the world, it is better understood how to explain and deal with these illnesses regarding different cultures. There are many factors included in the promotion of "cultural competence" that deal with stereotypes and ethnic minorities which affect a large urban population that can be better understood with an anthropologists insight and knowledge (2).
According to the Mayo Clinic, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) also known as Coronary Artery Disease "develops when your coronary arteries — the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients — become damaged or diseased. Cholesterol-containing deposits (plaque) on your arteries are usually to blame for coronary artery disease." With the build up of plaque, there is less blood flow to the heart which can result in symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. Though this build up can be slow and over a prolonged amount of time, if the build up of plaque persists, it may result in a heart attack (3).
Citations:
1. Hollowworld.co.uk. "Heart" Picture. Accessed August 11, 2013, http://hollowworld.co.uk/index.php?threads/do-you-need.20939/page-6
2. Cecil Helman, "Why medical anthropology matters." Anthropology Today, February 2006, Accessed August 11, 2013, http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us13/files/2012/06/Helman-Why-Medical-Anthropology-Matters.pdf
3. "Coronary artery disease," Mayo Clinic, accessed August 11, 2013, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-artery-disease/DS00064
This website will exhibit the different approaches of Medical Anthropology including bio/ecological, ethnomedical, experimental, critical, applied, as well as a reflection of how the materials in this course have influenced my thoughts and opinions about medical anthropology. The importance of non-medical factors includes views where medical anthropology incorporates more than just a clinical sense of physiology and pathophysiology such as epidemiology and psychological aspects. With these interests encompassing social factors affecting this illness along with the distribution and control of such diseases, an anthropologist is more likely in discovering the source and control of a disease and not just contributing to the cure of symptoms. Through the study of social interactions with varying populations around the world, it is better understood how to explain and deal with these illnesses regarding different cultures. There are many factors included in the promotion of "cultural competence" that deal with stereotypes and ethnic minorities which affect a large urban population that can be better understood with an anthropologists insight and knowledge (2).
According to the Mayo Clinic, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) also known as Coronary Artery Disease "develops when your coronary arteries — the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients — become damaged or diseased. Cholesterol-containing deposits (plaque) on your arteries are usually to blame for coronary artery disease." With the build up of plaque, there is less blood flow to the heart which can result in symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. Though this build up can be slow and over a prolonged amount of time, if the build up of plaque persists, it may result in a heart attack (3).
Citations:
1. Hollowworld.co.uk. "Heart" Picture. Accessed August 11, 2013, http://hollowworld.co.uk/index.php?threads/do-you-need.20939/page-6
2. Cecil Helman, "Why medical anthropology matters." Anthropology Today, February 2006, Accessed August 11, 2013, http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us13/files/2012/06/Helman-Why-Medical-Anthropology-Matters.pdf
3. "Coronary artery disease," Mayo Clinic, accessed August 11, 2013, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-artery-disease/DS00064