The Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases - Article Example

Article Summary Introduction The problem of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other related ailments havepresented a great problem to the people of first nations in Canada. Therefore, the authorities have been putting all efforts in addressing the risk factors associated with these diseases such as obesity, lack of adequate physical exercise, hypertension, smoking and high levels of glucose in the blood among other factors. This paper will conduct an article review of a study carried out among aboriginal people on the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases among aboriginal people The most common type of cardiovascular disease among aboriginal people is the coronary heart disease whose cause although largely unknown, several risk factors have been found to increase its chance of occurrence. These include high levels of cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes mellitus smoking and high density of lipoproteins; these risk factors are attributed to the lifestyles and the socio-economic status of the aboriginal people. For the last couple of decades, the aboriginal people have adopted a western lifestyle including their nutritional patterns and behaviour, which include eating foods rich in calories and adopting inactive lifestyles; this has led to increase in cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes in aboriginal people Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common among the aboriginal people is usually characterised by resistance to insulin, high blood glucose levels and reduction in insulin levels. This type of diabetes is most often found in adults and its risk is increased by obesity, lack of physical activity, stress, depression and poor nutritional habits. Since diabetes and severe obesity have been found to be linked, mainly through the adipose tissue, which has been found to trigger insulin resistance in sells, the appearance of obesity will in most cases lead to diabetes. For the last 50 years, prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been increasing among aboriginal populations with about 17.9 percent of all adult being diagnosed with the disease, the figure rises to 35 per cent among individuals 55 years or older. In some communities in northwestern Ontario, the prevalence has been found to be as high as 80 per cent among women between 50 and 64 years of age. However, this trend has not spared people much younger among the first nation communities with studies showing that 53 per cent of those living with diabetes are below 41 years of age and 65 per cent are below 45 years. This type of diabetes, although not observed in youths, it has been found in young children between 5 and 8 years in the lake region of northeastern Manitoba and northern Ontario. Interaction between cardiovascular disease and diabetes in aboriginal populations Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are mutually influencing disease where occurrence of one increases the risk of the other occurring; a study conducted in Manitoba estimated that by between 1996 and 2016, diabetes would be responsible for 500 per cent increase in stroke and blindness and 1000 per cent increase in cardiovascular diseases. Among the Inuit community, western diets and lifestyles have increased the occurrence of chronic diseases, which has been increased at a startling rate. Between 1991 and 1999, the prevalence of diabetes among Inuit population rose from 1.9 per cent to 4 per cent, however, these rates are considered low in comparison to other aboriginal communities. The reason for this has been disputed by researches with some arguing it is because of their marine diets while some have argued that there does not exist enough scientific data to conclusively determine the levels of diabetes among the Inuit people. A life course in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in aboriginal people Intrauterine effects and birth weight Several studies have shown that less than optimal conditions during development of foetus in the womb or during growth of an infant can be associated with chronic illnesses later in life. Using the fetal origin hypothesis, researchers have tried to show that metabolic programming during breastfeeding and infancy of a child will to a large extent determine the likelihood of that child developing chronic illnesses as an adult. Birth weight, which is linked to the development of a foetus in the womb, is believed to be related to many chronic diseases including chronic health problems. Several studies have reported a strong relationship between low birth weight and the increased likelihood of occurrence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Maternal diabetes Impaired glucose tolerance is a condition where the glucose levels are higher than normal but not large enough to be called type 2 diabetes although with similar risk factors and effects. Due to the hormonal and psychological changes that come with pregnancy, glucose tolerance levels reduce in pregnant women; for instance, in the western countries between 2 to 3 per cent of all pregnant women insulin tolerance levels deteriorate to a level that can be classified as maternal diabetes, in aboriginal women, this prevalence may rise up to 13 per cent. Maternal obesity Obesity has been found to be a risk factor in both gestational and type 2diabetes, in addition, maternal diabetes has been found to increase the likelihood of children being born with high weight, which is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in children. Although the studies that have been conducted do not show a direct link between maternal obesity and development of obesity in infants, children born of obese mothers are twice as much likely to develop diabetes and cardiovascular diseases than those born of normal weigh mothers. Childhood, adolescent and adult obesity Longitudinal studies conducted among aboriginal people have found out that childhood and adolescent obesity precede adult obesity, which increase the chances of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart diseases. Child obesity is especially prevalent among people of first nations with 64% of girls aged between 4 and 19 year and 60% of boys being reported as obese. Smoking throughout life course Smoking among the aboriginal people is a major health issue as a large number of their women smoke, in addition, studies have found out that more than 19% of children under 18 years smoke. Smoking among this population has been found to cause central metabolic syndrome that causes obesity and insulin resistance (Kmetic, Reading & Estey, 2008). Analysis The authors of the article have been able to explain all the risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes among the aboriginal people. It is important to note that the risk factors that the authors have brought forward are common to a large population in America however, they are more prevalent among the aboriginal people. The article has focussed mainly on women and children without much reference to the adult male population, this makes the research incomplete since although the topic implies that the information contained while cover all the aboriginal people, it has only managed to cover part of that, therefore leaving the reader not knowing any information about men. Some of the data that has been used to show the trends in the cardiovascular diseases and diabetes is more than 10 years old; this makes it difficult to ascertain the current levels of the diseases since the trends may have changed. To increase the relevance of the article, the authors would have provided some of the measures that the authorities have been trying to put in place to address the problems; however, this is not captured in the article. Conclusion Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among the aboriginal people have been more prevalent than in other populations in Canada, these can be attributed to the lifestyles and behaviours that the people have copied from the westerners. These lifestyles include diet, physical inactivity and risky health behaviours such as smoking which have been embraced by both adults (especially women) and minors. The article has however failed to capture the trends in male population and in addition used some old data, which may compromise accuracy of the information contained. References Kmetic, A., Reading, J., & Estey, E. (2008). Taking a life course perspective on cardiovascular disease and diabetes in first nations people. CJNR. Vol 40(3). 58-78 Read More