Target Population
Heart disease and stroke (HDS) can affect people of all ages, but the risk of developing HDS is increasing with age. Although older adults are the most vulnerable group, it has been acknowledged that over a third of the adult population under 65 years old have HDS (CDC, 20). It is also clear that raising awareness among this age group, and these people encouragement to have a healthy lifestyle can prevent higher rates of HDS in the future. The prevalence of HDS is decreasing during the past decade, which suggests the benefits of the measures that have been undertaken since the 1990s (Mensah et al., 2017). At the same time, some groups, such as African Americans are at a higher risk due to socioeconomic aspects, genetics, cultural peculiarities, and other factors.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
As mentioned above, HDS can be characterized by high comorbidity. The risk of developing increases if a person is affected by one or more illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, sleep disturbance, and some other conditions (CDC, 2019). It has been estimated that one in three Americans have high blood pressure, and approximately 40% have obesity, while 72% of American adults are obese or overweight (CDC, 2019). HDS can also be closely related to lifestyle peculiarities as people who are physically inactive, smoke, and/or have unhealthy dietary habits are more likely to be affected (CDC, 2020). Some of the primary symptoms of a stroke include numbness, sudden confusion, dizziness, severe headache, and similar signs. The most evident symptoms of a heart disease are chest pain, or pain in the upper part of the body, shortness of breath, and numbness.
Treatment
HDS can have different causes but lead to serious public health issues. These disorders treatment involves medication-based and non-pharmacological treatment, including psychological support and therapy. The promotion of healthy lifestyles has proved to be an effective measure, but it is still critical to continue educating people regarding the matter (Mensah et al., 2017). People should be encouraged to have healthy diets and be physically active. Smokers should be motivated to quit smoking in order to maintain good health (CDC, 2020). Numerous organizations and agencies collaborate to develop projects and incentives that can promote healthy lifestyles and awareness of the major symptoms and signs of HDS. Some of these initiatives include the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, WISEWOMAN, the Sodium Reduction in Communities Program, and Million Hearts (CDC, 2019). Such projects encompass the involvement of large audiences, including the target group, their families, and communities. Federal and state governments pay considerable attention to the problem and contribute to the implementation of such incentives.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Heart disease and stroke.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Stroke facts.
Mensah, G. A., Wei, G. S., Sorlie, P. D., Fine, L. J., Rosenberg, Y., & Kaufmann, P. G., Mussolino, M. E., Hsu, L. L., Addou, E., Engelgau, M. M., & Gordon, D. (2017). Decline in cardiovascular mortality. Circulation Research, 120(2), 366-380.