The Lived Experiences of Symptoms in Women with Coronary Heart Disease: A Phenomenology Study

The diagnosis of coronary heart diseases in women have fewer health-related consequences compared to men; therefore, despite experiencing symptoms they tend to delay seeking help and treatment. Now there is a little information about the emotional aspects of symptoms in women with coronary artery disease. This study aimed to describe the symptoms experienced in women with coronary heart diseases.
This study is a qualitative research which used descriptive phenomenological method. The participants in this study were 8 females with ischemic heart disease who were hospitalized in the cardiac care units and heart disease settings affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. To gathering data, semi-structured in-depth interviews was used and the Colaizzi method was used to analyze the data. In order to achieve trustworthiness, the techniques of member checking and audit trial were used.
The findings summarized in several concepts which finally categorized in two main concepts: 1.The continuation of suffering and relief, (2) resistance.
Continuing suffering and relief is the story of a major change in the life of the persons to the brink feel death forward. This naturally has a negative impact on the patient's psychological conditions. The patient after experiencing the first symptoms of a heart attack, the denial and neglect of these symptoms does. Thus, mental distance from the incident and subsequent problems is considered as a form of resistance. Consequently, in such circumstances, the patient's knowledge about the nature of the disease and ensuring the availability of health care resources can be very helpful in relieving physical and mental condition of patients.