IHD is a condition that results to distress in the heart due to a lack of enough blood supply. It is also referred to as coronary illness and is a major cause of death worldwide, including in Australia (Indraratna et al., 2020). The ailment results when the blood starts to collect cholesterol particles on corridors that supply the heart with blood due to the formation of shapes called plaques. These shapes limit blood supply in the heart and may also obstruct its flow. The problem causes narrowed heart arteries which may be formed by blood clots constricting vessels and the building up of plaque called atherosclerosis. When less blood is supplied to the heart muscles, the oxygen level is greatly decreased. Some patients with this illness will have no side effects, while others may experience serious angina, which is life-threatening. When the muscles are completely blocked, the cells die, which is called myocardial infarction or heart attack.
Health Impacts
IHD has a significant effect on the health of the individual. The patient is likely to experience chest pain or pressure, especially on the left side, referred to as angina pectoris. One can experience fullness, numbness, stuffiness, heaviness and squeezing of the chest. The person may have irregular heart rhythms that may weaken the heart, a condition called arrhythmia (Indraratna et al., 2020). A heart attack may occur when the coronary artery is blocked completely, and the heart muscles are destroyed. Other symptoms related to the illnesses experienced among women, older persons and those with diabetes include sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and arms, shoulder and neck pain
Social Impacts
IHD can significantly impact the social life of patients. The individual may be limited to performing activities they were used to, such as work, travel and social activities leading them to feel lonely and isolated. The treatment of IHD may result in financial instability for the patient and family, resulting in disputes. If the patient is the breadwinner, strain in a relationship may occur. Additionally, individuals may experience social exclusion and discrimination associated with heart disease.
Prevalence of IHD in Australia
Coronary heart disease is among Australia’s top three causes of disease burden and death. In 2021, 571,000 people were diagnosed with the illness, as provided by reports from the Australian bureau of statistics (AIHW, 2021). The research shows that one in every 9 within the age of 75 and above has IHD (AIHW, 2021). In 2019, 57000 people experienced unstable angina and heart attack, and 13% of the cases were fatal (AIHW, 2021). Coronary heart disease has resulted in the death of 16,600 Australians annually, 10% of coronary vascular disease deaths (AIHW, 2021). Australia’s disease burden has caused 140,000 DALY annually due to disability and premature death (AIHW, 2021). The country had an expenditure of 2.4 billion in 2022 hospitalizations to treat patients with coronary artery disease (AIHW, 2021). Generally, these details indicate that age is a major factor in IHD burden in Australia.
Prevalence of Risk Factors and Presents Trends
Major risk factors of IHD in Australia are high blood pressure, poor diet and smoking. In the country, one in four adults has high blood pressure (Picone et al., 2020). Poor diet in the country is associated with a high intake of sugar, salt and saturated fats, where 65% of the Australian population has a poor diet (Owen et al., 2020). The prevalence of smoking in Australia is 10.7% among adults (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022). The overall trend of IHD prevalence in the country has decreased from the 1990s to the present (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022). The age-standardized death rate has declined from 414 /100,000 to 68 in males and 209/100,000 to 32 in females (AIHW, 2021). The significant decrease in death rates has been mainly promoted by increased health literacy in the population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022). Individuals know the risk factors and have worked on improved conditions to prevent high occurrences. Innovations in the health sector have additionally promoted decreasing deaths as better equipment has facilitated the treatment and decreased health risks.
Determinants Health Impacts on Risk Factors
The social determinants affecting IHD include sex, ethnicity, social environments and access to care. Discrimination due to social factors may impact individuals, increasing their exposure to high-stress levels, poor nutrition and health inequalities (White-Williams et al., 2020). These persons are more likely to engage in behaviors such as smoking that may result in IHD. Political determinants of health are regulation, government policies for treatment and prevention of IHD and those that promote a healthy lifestyle. Nutritional policies enable people to eat healthy foods and avoid unhealthy diets. Tobacco control policies relate to regulations and laws for tobacco use, such as increased taxes, no-smoking rules and restricting promotion and advertisements.
Economic determinants of health, including poverty and unemployment, can increase the chances of existing risk factors such as smoking habits and high blood pressure from unhealthy eating behavior. With no money, people cannot buy nutritious foods leading to unhealthy diets and significant weight gain, increasing the risk of IHD. Behavioral determinants such as physical inactivity may lead to an increased risk of diabetes and obesity, which are associated with heart ailments. Cultural influence impacts how people do things, such as physical inactivity, stress management and food preference which may increase their risks of coronary heart disease.
Interventions in Australia
Australia has implemented several interventions to minimize the impacts of IHD in the country. The National Heart Foundation of Australia is one of the programs (Jennings et al., 2021). Its mission in improving heart health, reduce heart diseases and improve the quality of life among Australians. The program aims to reduce risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also promotes healthy eating and physical activities, which are essential in preventing IHD.
The country has also implemented acute coronary syndrome care pathways. The intervention has been an evidence-based treatment method for IHD (Hai et al., 2019). It has promoted care for patients with the ailment and minimized adverse effects such as stroke, heart attack and death. Consequently, the government has launched public awareness and health campaigns related to heart illnesses that promote a healthy lifestyle. The citizens are encouraged to quit smoking and perform regular cholesterol and blood pressure checks.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). Smoking, 2020-21 financial year. Web.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). (2021). Heart, stroke and vascular disease-Australian facts, what is coronary heart disease? Web.
Hai, J. J., Wong, C. K., Un, K. C., Wong, K. L., Zhang, Z. Y., Chan, P. H., & Tse, H. F. (2019). Guideline-based critical care pathway improves long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-9. Web.
Indraratna, P., Tardo, D., Yu, J., Delbaere, K., Brodie, M., Lovell, N., & Ooi, S. Y. (2020). Mobile phone technologies in the management of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and hypertension: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(7), e16695. Web.
Jennings, G. L., Audehm, R., Bishop, W., Chow, C. K., Liaw, S. T., Liew, D., & Linton, S. M. (2021). National Heart Foundation of Australia: Position statement on coronary artery calcium scoring for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia, 214(9), 434. Web.
Owen, A. J., Tran, T., Hammarberg, K., Kirkman, M., & Fisher, J. R. (2021). Poor appetite and overeating reported by adults in Australia during the coronavirus-19 disease pandemic: A population-based study. Public Health Nutrition, 24(2), 275-281. Web.
Picone, D. S., Deshpande, R. A., Schultz, M. G., Fonseca, R., Campbell, N. R., Delles, C., Olesen, M. H., Schutte,A. E., Stergiou,G., Padwal, R., Zhang, X., & Sharman, J. E. (2020). Nonvalidated home blood pressure devices dominate the online marketplace in Australia: Major implications for cardiovascular risk management. Hypertension, 75(6), 1593-1599. Web.
White-Williams, C., Rossi, L. P., Bittner, V. A., Driscoll, A., Durant, R. W., Granger, B. B., & American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. (2020). Addressing social determinants of health in the care of patients with heart failure: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 141(22), e841-e863. Web.