Cardiovascular disorders are one of the top causes of death in the USA. It has been estimated that over 92 million American adults have some type of heart disease (Benjamin et al., 2017). The major factors contributing to the development of these illnesses include smoking, physical inactivity, nutrition, excessive weight, diabetes mellitus, family history, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol levels to name just a few. Apart from biological causes of cardiovascular disorders prevalence, such social aspects as education, socio-economic status, as well as ethnicity and inequality issues are influential factors (Havranek et al., 2015). The diseases are regarded as a substantial economic burden for the country’s budget as the costs associated with cardiovascular disorders reached more than 316 billion between 2012 and 2013 (Benjamin et al., 2017). This paper includes a brief analysis of the existing programs aimed at the prevention of heart diseases as well as possible steps a community health nurse can undertake.
Researchers have implemented many longitudinal studies to evaluate the effectiveness of various prevention programs and initiatives. For instance, Record et al. (2015) carried out a study that analyzed the data obtained between 1970 and 2010. The considered programs were mainly aimed at addressing smoking, dietary habits, cholesterol levels monitoring, hypertension, and physical activity. The researchers emphasize that the programs proved to be efficient as the number of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases decreased in the communities where the programs were held. Havranek et al. (2015) claim that networking and social support are essential components of effective prevention programs. It is stressed that people are more committed to the goals of the initiative if they feel certain support and care.
A community health nurse can contribute to the decrease in the prevalence of the disorder through the development and participation in initiatives at different levels. At the individual level, the nursing professional should train patients suffering from a cardiovascular disorder and their close ones. The focus should be on healthy lifestyles, healthy diets, available resources, as well as the data concerning the existing programs and networks helping people with heart diseases. At that, community health nurses can contribute most at the community level. They can develop various programs and incentives that will provide the necessary information to those who need it (patients and their caregivers). These nursing professionals can also involve educational establishments. Young people should understand the cost they may pay for unhealthy habits. Young males should be aware of the most effective prevention strategies as well as the consequences of bad habits. Finally, at the nation-wide level, community health nurses can initiate the discussion of new programs and policies (with the focus on equality) necessary to address the issue.
In conclusion, it is possible to note that heart diseases are a serious health issue affecting American men. Various factors contribute to the development of the disorders. Therefore, community health nurses should address the problem at different levels. The focus should be on raising awareness of the disorders and available resources. It is also necessary to make young generations concerned with their health and habits. A comprehensive approach should be used to address the problem. Healthcare providers, healthcare professionals, and the government should make sure that their efforts are coordinated and efficient. It is also vital to continue exploring the disease, evaluating the efficacy of prevention programs, and people’s attitudes towards them.
References
Benjamin, E., Blaha, M., Chiuve, S., Cushman, M., Das, S., Deo, R., … Muntner, P. (2017). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2017 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 135(10), e146-e603.
Havranek, E., Mujahid, M., Barr, D., Blair, I., Cohen, M., Cruz-Flores, S., … Yancy, C. (2015). Social determinants of risk and outcomes for cardiovascular disease. Circulation, 132(9), 873-898.
Record, N., Onion, D., Prior, R., Dixon, D., Record, S., Fowler, F., … Pearson, T. (2015). Community-wide cardiovascular disease prevention programs and health outcomes in a rural county, 1970-2010. JAMA, 313(2), 147-155.