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Tell
us what you think about this series, about health care in the
state, or how to improve the quality of life in Appalachia. Send
us your comments now to weku@eku.edu,
or to Simple Changes, WEKU, 102 Perkins Building, 521 Lancaster
Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475.
Simple
Changes is a year-long exploration of chronic illness in Appalachian
Kentucky produced by public radio station WEKU and Pattie A. Clay
Regional Medical Center in Richmond, Kentucky. The project is
funded by Sound
Partners for Community Health. |
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According
to the Centers for Disease Control, chronic illness is among the
most common and costly health problems. They are also among the
most preventable.
So
what is a chronic disease? Medical experts define it as a condition
that lasts a year or longer, limits what a person can do, and
won't go away on its own.
If
you live in the Appalachian counties of southeastern Kentucky,
your chance of having a chronic health problem is generally far
greater than if you live in other parts of the United States.
While
many chronic diseases are present in the region, here is some
information to help you understand some of the most prominent
conditions.
| Heart
Disease |
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Are
you at risk for heart disease? Take our quick
quiz now.
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| Patient
Profile |
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| Earl
Wayne Kates |
Kates,
50, is one of thousands of Kentuckians living with
coronary heart disease. In 1996, Kates had his first
heart attack. That has been followed by a second
attack, congestive heart failure and chronic lung
disease. Now on medical disability, Kates lives
in McKee, Kentucky. 
Listen
as he and his wife describe what it's like to live
with heart disease. |
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The
general term "heart disease" can include several
different conditions such as angina, heart attack and heart
failure. Heart disease is any chronic condition that makes
your heart weaker and not able to pump as much blood as it
would normally. As a result, you may not be able to do all
the things you once did, like climbing stairs, without getting
tired easily. |
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| Risk
Factors |
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Smoke;
are overweight; do not get enough exercise; have high blood
pressure, cholesterol or stress levels; have a family history
of heart disease |
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| Signs
of Heart Disease |
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Pain
or discomfort in the chest; shortness of breath; pain in the
shoulder, neck, jaw or arm; feeling light-headed or sick at
your stomach |
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| Heart
Disease in Kentucky |
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Heart
disease is the leading cause of death for Kentuckians. Each
day, 200 citizens in the state are hospitalized for heart
disease. Kentucky ranks fourth in the nation in deaths from
heart conditions (1999 figures). Counties with the highest
heart disease death rates are found primarily in the southeastern
region of the state. See county
by county heart disease statistics for the state |
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| Learn
More About Heart Disease |
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Listen
as a panel of medical experts discusses heart disease |
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Printable
Brochure about Heart Disease (requires
Adobe Acrobat
Reader) |
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American
Heart Association |
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