Introduction
The discussion focuses on three risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Three factors associated with heart disease have been chosen for review. An integrated approach has been used to assess a patient’s needs and develop an education plan for each of the risk factor discussed for the patient who has not yet developed heart disease.
Risk Factors
The cardiovascular disease chosen for this study is coronary heart disease, which is a major cause of death in the US and other parts of the world, and associated risk factors.
Overweight
Overweight has been linked with high rates of deaths related to coronary heart disease (Samper-Ternent & Al Snih, 2012). These deaths may include sudden death or congestive heart failure. Although overweight may cause death, it is also a risk factor for heart disease, blood pressure and diabetes. Apart from genetics, overweight may result from poor diets, lifestyles and too little physical activities.
Physical Inactivity
Physical inactivity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (Hootman, Pan, Helmick, & Hannan, 2011). Individuals with poor physical activity practices or sedentary tend to suffer higher rates of heart diseases.
Smoking
Available studies have shown that cigarette smoking, including passive smoking is a critical risk factor for coronary heart disease (Luo, Rossouw, & Margolis, 2013). Generally, cigarette smokers have high rates of developing coronary heart disease relative to non-smokers. The risk for heart disease escalates with frequencies of smoking, inhalation and age. Cigarette smoking may function synergistically with other known risks factors for coronary heart diseases.
Educational plan
The educational plan for risk factors associated with coronary heart disease is designed for a patient who has not yet suffered the disease. This is an integrated plan because several risk factors for coronary heart diseases interact physiologically to increase chances of developing the condition. Therefore, individuals with a combination of risk factors for coronary heart disease have greater risks for the disease. Overweight, obesity and inactivity, for instance, are three major risk factors that may found from a single patient. Overweight has been associated with a lack of or inadequate physical activities.
A combination of preventive practices can help in mitigating risk factors associated with the coronary heart disease.
Weight Loss
Healthy people who are prone to coronary heart disease should engage in weight loss to reduce chances of the condition, high blood pressure and poor glucose tolerance.
Managing weight is difficult because of intensity and frequencies required to sustain healthy body and it therefore may not be effective for patients who cannot sustain them. Combined and sustained approaches to weight loss may overcome overweight associated with the coronary heart disease.
Healthy diets, change of lifestyles and physical activities can help in managing overweight.
Physical Activity
Physical activities such as jogging, bike riding, weightlifting training and other forms of exercises could be effective for enhancing healthy heart and maintaining healthy body. Endurance physical activities are known to reduce cases of myocardial infarction. In addition, intense, regular physical activities could reduce heart disease, morbidity and mortality.
Smoking Cessation
Individuals who do not smoke have longer lifespan than those who smoke. Likewise, people who cease to smoke are likely to live longer than those who continue to smoke. Smoking cessation reduces risks for developing coronary heart disease and cases of heart attack or deaths related to stroke.
Conclusion
There are many risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases. Smoking, physical inactivity and overweight are common risk factors for coronary heart disease. An integrated education plan for these risk factors could be effective for mitigating them.
References
Hootman, M., Pan, L., Helmick, G., & Hannan, C. (2011). State-specific trends in obesity prevalence among adults with arthritis, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2003–2009. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 305(23), 2404-2405. doi: MMWR 2011;60(16):509-513.
Luo, J., Rossouw, J., & Margolis, K. (2013). Smoking Cessation, Weight Change, and Coronary Heart Disease Among Postmenopausal Women With and Without Diabetes. Journal of the American Medical Associatio, 310(1), 94-96.
Samper-Ternent, R., & Al Snih, S. (2012). Obesity in Older Adults: Epidemiology and Implications for Disability and Disease. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 22(1), 10-34.