Introduction
Health is one of the determinants of well-being in society. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rated among the common health conditions affecting people globally. CVD is linked with heart and blood vessel problems and includes heart attack, heart failure, and stroke, according to Zhao et al.(1). With the rapid lifestyle and diet changes, many people are susceptible to developing heart conditions. Although the causes of CVD are not clear-cut, scientists have enlisted several risk factors that accelerate the occurrence and prevalence of the disease. This paper focuses on cardiovascular diseases, drawing from evidence-based studies and scientific data to understand the causes and develop recommendations for preventing and lowering the prevalence of CVD.
Causes
People make personal decisions daily that include what to eat, how much time they rest, and exercise. Each of these decisions has an impact on the health and well-being of individuals. CVD is mainly attributed to unhealthy lifestyles, especially among the middle-aged and the elderly. An understanding of the causes of disease is essential for developing viable precautions and treatment procedures. Some of the causes and risk factors associated with CVD are stress, smoking, high blood pressure, alcohol, obesity, high cholesterol, inactivity, diabetes, and a family history of CVD (Zhao et al., 1). To reduce the proliferation of CVD, each of these causes should be addressed for the development of effective prevention and treatment measures.
Stress
People deal with stressful situations are various points in their lives. According to the research done by Kivimäki and Steptoe (2), stress has a significant impact on the development of CVDs. The study pools data from the individual levels to published scientific data to analyze the impact of stress on individuals in relation to CVD. Kivimäki and Steptoe (2) show that individuals exposed to stress at work or in their personal lives are more likely to suffer from stroke and heart disease (1.1 to 1.6 fold).
Stress may affect one in their childhood years or adulthood. The results show that childhood stress has a heavier impact than adulthood stress (2). Adult stress has been associated with disease triggers, especially among individuals with a pre-existing CVD. Therefore, mitigating measures should factor in the stress-causing activities to develop an effective prevention plan.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure (BP) is an important factor in assessing the causes of cardiovascular diseases. According to Fuchs and Whelton (3), high BP is linked with, among all other factors, the strongest evidence in regard to CVD causation. Among the conditions associated with high BP are heart failure, heart valve diseases, coronary heart disease, aortic diseases, and atrial fibrillation. The authors demonstrate that blood pressure significantly rises above normal with old age (3). The study shows differences in blood pressure shifts between high-income countries and low-income countries.
According to Fuchs and Whelton (3), there has been a rightward shift in BP distribution among low-income countries, thereby contributing to a high prevalence of CVD. At the same time, high-income countries have significantly lower incidences of CVD, as evidenced by the leftward shift in blood pressure distribution. In the 61 cohort studies quoted in the article, lower BP levels and young age are associated with slightly lower incidences of CVD (3). Essentially lowering the blood pressure, especially among the aging population, can be an effective means of mitigating the risk of CVD, especially stroke and heart failure.
Diabetes
Blood sugar levels affect the body in several ways, including determining the level of risk in relation to CVD. According to Wittwer et al. (4), patients with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases. In a cohort study conducted by Sharma et al. (5), heart failure (HF) was the most prevalent killer among individuals with type2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Although CVD is the leading killer among individuals with type 2 diabetes globally, African Americans are at higher risk of these deaths than other populations (4). This implies that the intervention measures should be tailored to address the specific challenges among different racial groups.
Obesity
The rapid change in lifestyle and diet have contributed to increased cases of overweight among individuals globally. According to Kotsis et al. (6), obesity is the main contributing factor to heart failure, ischemic stroke, and sudden cardiac death. Obesity has been attributed to an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, factors that can be easily managed. These conditions start early in life, even in childhood, and if managed well, cardiovascular complications can be mitigated (6). In their treatment options, doctors evaluate the predisposing factors in every individual case and recommend the best treatment.
Current Treatment Options, Steps, and Medications
The treatment of cardiovascular diseases follows a number of steps. First, a diagnosis is made to determine the type of heart condition. In this step, the doctor conducts a physical examination and asks the patient about their lifestyle and diet. Heart x-ray and blood tests are also done to verify the heart condition identified. The second step entails medication and treatment recommendations, which are determined by the health condition.
Regardless of the CVD diagnosed, lifestyle change is an essential measure that the doctor recommends. Lifestyle choices include quitting unhealthy practices such as smoking and exercising. Diet change is also a part of lifestyle change since food alters the body’s functioning (6). Apart from lifestyle changes, the doctor prescribes medication and sometimes medical procedures such as surgery. Lastly, the medical practitioner recommends some coping and support plans. These include cardiac rehabilitation, frequent medical checkups, and support groups.
Leading Questions for CVD Mitigation
CVD mitigation at local health facilities can be facilitated by inquiry following the five questions below:
- Question 1: What is the percentage of CVD-related deaths that have occurred in this facility recently?
- Question 2: What are the main factors leading to CVD proliferation among the reported cases?
- Question 3: What is the most affected age group according to the cases handled at this facility?
- Question 4: What is the distribution of CVD among the different races diagnosed with CVD?
- Question5: What are the main medical treatments and recommendations given to CVD patients at this facility?
These five questions form a basis for the development of a CVD mitigation protocol. The percentage of deaths data helps to establish the prevalence of CVD and thereby determine the level of intervention needed. The factors attributed to CVD determine where heat practitioners should concentrate their efforts in counseling and treatment. According to Wittwer et al. (4), different races have demonstrated different levels of CVD prevalence. Therefore the fourth question is crucial in addressing the local issues present. The fifth question helps to determine how patients respond to treatment and the capacity of the local health facilities to offer the right treatment for CVD.
Recommended Steps for CVD Prevention
Since CVD affects all ages, races, and social categories, local health practitioners need to develop effective guidelines for preventing its prevalence and proliferation in society. The six steps below can be used as a guide:
- Step 1: Educate local communities and eliminate the myths about CVD. This step is important because the community needs to learn and understand that everyone, including children, is at risk of CVD, as shown by Kotsis et al. (6).
- Step 2: Instill trust among the local communities in the health institutions
- Step3: Partner with local leaders. Steps 2 and 3 are important because trust influences how patients respond to health practitioners. One of the reasons behind the high rates of CVD cases among African Americans is attributed to mistrust of health institutions (4). Local leaders will help to promote trust and thereby facilitate treatment.
- Step 4: Lower the cost of medication
- Step 5: Establish community support programs
- Step 6: Invest in extensive research for CVD treatment. Steps 4, 5, and 6 are all aimed at ensuring the local community get access to quality treatment and prevention measures. As shown by Fuchs and Whelton (3), people living in low-income countries are at higher risk of developing BP and CVD. The above measures will help them get medication and support, an essential factor in CVD mitigation.
Conclusion
Cardiovascular diseases are rated as a leading cause of young and old deaths globally. Some of the risk factors include high blood pressure, obesity, lifestyle changes, diabetes, and diet. When addressing CVD, the health practitioner should inquire into the individual’s life and provide recommendations to address each case individually. To prevent CVD proliferation in the local community, healthcare providers should partner with local leaders. In addition, more extensive research is needed to develop more effective measures if curb the high rate of CVD prevalence.
Sources
Zhao, Dong, Jing Liu, Miao Wang, Xingguang Zhang, and Mengge Zhou. 2018. Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in china: Current features and implications. Nature Reviews Cardiology 16 (4): 203-212. Web.
Kivimäki, Mika, and Andrew Steptoe. 2017. Effects of stress on the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. Nature Reviews Cardiology 15 (4): 215- 229. Web.
Fuchs, Flávio D., and Paul K. Whelton. 2020. High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Hypertension 75 (2): 285-292. Web.
Wittwer, Jennifer A., Sherita Hill Golden, and Joshua J. Joseph. 2020. Diabetes and CVD risk: Special considerations in African Americans related to care. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports 14 (10). Web.
Sharma, Abhinav, Jennifer B. Green, Allison Dunning, Yuliya Lokhnygina, Sana M. Al- Khatib, Renato D. Lopes, and John B. Buse et al. 2017. Causes of death in a contemporary cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: Insights from the TECOS Trial. Diabetes Care 40 (12): 1763-1770. Web.
Kotsis, Vasilios, Konstantinos Tsioufis, Christina Antza, Gino Seravalle, Antonio Coca, Cristina Sierra, and Empar Lurbe et al. 2018. Obesity and cardiovascular risk. Journal of Hypertension 36 (7): 1441-1455. Web.