Understanding the meanings of heart disease for women experiencing climacteric

Objective: To know the meanings of heart disease for women experiencing climacteric. Methods: Qualitative study with 25 cardiovascular women, conducted from June to August 2013. The interactionist perspective (symbolic interactionism) was used as a theoretical-methodological reference and, as a modality, the analysis by focus group technique. Results: four categories were identified namely "Incapacity for activities of daily living"; "Feelings of frustration"; "Family" and "Spirituality." Women emphasized the transformations and repercussions in their daily lives. Feelings of dependence and uselessness are caused by both the aging process and heart disease. The awareness that heartdisease leads to feelings of frailty and impotence causes women to seek emotional comfort through family, friends, and spirituality. Conclusion: Heartdisease has evident repercussions in women’s daily lives, being responsible for changes in their lives, which become more valued and endowed with more meanings. The perception of the severity of the disease drives them to modify their behavioral habits and their interpersonal and transcendental relationships.