Running Head: U of U Cardiology Women and Heart Disease Page 1

12 July 2020
Ms. Jane Doe
123 Main Street, Anytown MO 12345
Dear Ms. Doe:

While women are often worried about breast cancer, heart disease silently kills one of

them every 90 seconds in the United States. (CDC Women’s Health, 2019).

Because heart disease is often thought to be a man’s problem, it is common for women to

dismiss the need to educate themselves on how their symptoms differ from men’s. The

most prevalent symptoms are not always the most severe or noticeable of symptoms

among women.

I’d like to invite you to read on about how we here at the University of Utah Cardiac

Center can educate women on how they can identify and possibly prevent heart disease.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Taylor

Account Executive

I’d like to propose developing a strategic communication campaign centered around heart

health issues in women. This campaign should be presented via our social media presence to

target girls at risk for smoking, and pamphlet style literature to be placed at all participating

University of Utah clinics and hospitals, thus targeting women in their reproductive and

menopause years. We will also be participating in developing more education about heart

disease for those women participating in our 5 For Life program (U of U Health, 2020).
 U of U Cardiology Women and Heart Disease Page 2

This campaign shall focus on introducing the information women do not know about

heart disease, and how their symptoms differ from men. This educational focus will include:

1) More women will die from heart disease than men.

2) A women’s odds of developing heart disease will increase after menopause.

3) Heart disease presents itself in the form of stroke, arrhythmia, heart valve problems and

heart attack.

4) Smoking, and diabetes, along with high LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and family

history are common contributors to heart disease. (Northwestern Medicine, 2020).

5) Heart disease can be silent. A woman may never know much damage has been done.

6) Mental stress and depression affect women’s hearts more than men.

7) Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women in Utah.

8) Women tend to have blockages in both the main arteries and smaller ones that supply

blood to the heart making their symptoms different from men.

Finally, the geographic focus of this campaign will include all portions of the Intermountain

footprint including Utah, southern Idaho, and southern Nevada. The following graphs will aid in

matching each public with the proper information.

Figure 1 HD Deaths all ages Figure 2 HD Hospital Discharge age 65+ Figure 3 HD Hospitalizations age 65+

(nccd.cdc.gov, 2020)
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Reference

Aronson, M., Spetner, D., & Ames, C. (2007). The public relations writer's handbook: the
digital age (Kindle Ed.). Jossey-Bass.

CDC Women's Health. (2019, November 20). Leading Causes of Death-All races and origins-
Females - United States, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from
https://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/2017/all-races-origins/index.htm

Nccd.cdc.gov. (2020). Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. Retrieved August 17, 2020,
from https://nccd.cdc.gov/DHDSPAtlas/?state=State

Northwestern Medicine. (2020). 10 Things You May Not Know About Heart Disease. Retrieved
July 13, 2020, from https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/heart-facts-infographic

Gindi, R., Dr. (2019, November 14). Outreach - Health, United States - Products. Retrieved July
13, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/outreach.htm

U of U Health. (2020). 5 for Life. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from

https://healthcare.utah.edu/womenshealth/5forlife.php