Who is Morag:
- 55 year old woman
- Ethnic background is white, Scottish
- Works part-time as a cleaner for a primary school
- Looks after her grandchildren part-time
- Married to her husband, Jimmy, who works at the local power station
Morag’s Medical History:
- Has high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Takes a prescription for a calcium channel blocker and an ACE inhibitor to manage this.
- The ACE inhibitor, known as lisinopril (brand name is Zestril), works by widening blood vessels to make it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.
- The calcium channel blocker, known as amlodipine (brand name is Istin), works by relaxing and widening blood vessels to make it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.
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- Has high cholesterol
- Takes a prescription for a statin
- The statin, known as simvastatin (brand names are Zocor and Simvador) works by stopping the liver from making cholesterol. In turn this lowers the blood cholesterol levels.
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- Experiences anxiety
- Takes a prescription for an anti-depressant to manage this.
- The antidepressant, known as sertraline, is also known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and it works by increasing the levels of the mood-enhancing chemical in the brain called serotonin.
- Smokes about 20 cigarettes a day
Next Steps:
- Morag schedules an appointment with her healthcare provider because she has been experiencing menopause symptoms. She wants to discuss these symptoms, find out if they are because of menopause, and see if there is something she can do to manage them.
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