Coronary Heart Disease - Research Proposal Example

Coronary Heart Disease Introduction Coronary heart disease tends to affect several people and may lead to the development of heart attack and angina (chest pain). As such, several risk factors exist for heart disease, which include family history, age, obesity, diabetes and smoking. This illustrates a need for an individual to focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes taking medicine as prescribed by a doctor in order to ensure that the risk factors are minimized and prevented successfully (Barrett-Connor et al. 2009). In doing this, individuals are presented with the task of making competing choices on the better lifestyles, which are aimed at improving their wellness and health. Such includes gathering adequate information on personal responsibility on promoting, protecting and preventing their exposure to the risk factors of coronary heart diseases. Coronary heart disease is deemed to have occurred in situations where the coronary arteries are clogged with atheroma or plague (fatty material). The development of atheroma is slow and occurs on the inner artery walls, which makes such walls to be narrow (Khan et al. 2012). This often regarded as the atherosclerosis process, which can start at a young age to such a time when a person attains a middle age. Narrowing of the arteries is a dangerous situation since it implies a reduction of the volume of blood, which can reach the heart muscle of a person. Research has indicated that the number one killer of men and women all over the world is the coronary heart disease (Jamil et al. 2013). However, adhering to an effective healthy lifestyle ensures that a person is able to prevent or control the development of the coronary heart disease risk factors. This is essential since most of the lifestyle that individuals adopt begin during the childhood stage. Hence, parents and families have to embrace measures, which are focused on ensuring that their children are given the opportunity of adopting the best heart healthy choices, which will contribute in lowering the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Furthermore, individuals at higher risks of developing coronary heart disease tend to live for a shorter time in comparison to individuals that are at lower risk. This indicates a need for a person to change the adopted lifestyle in case the signs of developing coronary heart disease are identified at an early stage. Cardiovascular disease is a term that is associated with a disorder that develops in the cardiovascular system. It is linked to the atherosclerosis, which is commonly referred to as arterial disease. As such, coronary heart disease has several risk factors (De Santo et al. 2013). Individuals have at least a single coronary heart disease risk factor, which differs in terms of nature of risk development and severity. These risk factors for heart disease include those that are non-modifiable and those, which are modifiable. Non-modifiable risk factors include age and history of the family. These factors cannot be changed since they are inherent in the entire life of a person. Modifiable risk factors are termed so since they can be treated or changed. These include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and cholesterol. Smoking Smoking is regarded as one of the drug abuse action and the most preventable risk factor that people should consider. This is because smokers increase their risk of developing cardiovascular disease by two times than the other people. Further, exposure of smokers to the environment also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease development for non-smokers (Meijer et al. 2013). This illustrates that there is a need for individuals to ensure that they stay free from environments where there are people who are smoking. In addition to causing cancer development in the body of an individual, smoking tends to affect arteries, which are involved in the blood supply to the heart of a person. This has the impact of reducing the oxygen level and damaging the artery walls (Prabhakaran & Jeemon 2012). Further, smoking makes a person vulnerable to peripheral arterial disease, stroke and heart attack. This includes making the blood of a person stickier, which results in making the blood cells to clog together. Consequently, the rate of blood flow in the body of an individual decreases since less blood flows via the artery and blockage cases are common. It is the blockage, which causes the development of stroke and heart attack. Smoking is a preventable cause of premature deaths in several nations. This occurs since cigarette smokers have higher chances of developing the risks of chronic disorders. Such includes the different forms of cancer, arteries that buildup fats and lung problems (Freedland & Carney 2013). Studies have indicated that cigarette smoking contributes significantly towards the development of coronary heart disease. This in turn associated with heart attack among individuals. The best approach to minimizing the risk of smoking as a risk factor is to quit smoking. This implies that adequate resources have to be allocated to create public awareness on the negative impacts of engaging in smoking. Mechanism Any organic matter, which is partially burnt, such as smoke has carcinogens that act as the agents of causing cancer among individuals. Lung cancer is a potential effect of smoking, which can take more than 20 years to manifest itself in the body of a person. Carcinogenic pyrolytic products, which are contained in the smoke bind on the DNA of a person causing genetic mutations (Pun et al. 2011). For example, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that is toxicated to epoxides of mutagenic is a dangerous carcinogen. Hence, carcinogens bind on DNA and develop mutations, which care the key causes of cancer. There are several carcinogens in cigarette smoke, which have adverse effects on the body of an individual. These are acrolein, nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Narrowing of the arteries is a dangerous situation since it implies a reduction of the volume of blood, which can reach the heart muscle of a person. Blood pressure in the body of an individual is dependent on the amount of blood that is pumped by the heart and the rate of flow for such blood in the arteries, which is increased when a person engages in smoking activities. As such, blood pressure is anticipated to go up and down during the day depending on the nature of activities that a person is engaged. High blood pressure is associated with an overload of the heart, artery clogging and leads to serious complications, which include stroke and heart attack. Smoking enhances the development of high blood pressure and blood clotting (Meijer et al. 2013). Further, high blood pressure has the potential of affecting arteries to the other body parts, which include legs, kidneys and eyes. Hence, failure to treat high blood pressure results in the weakening of the heart because of the increment in extra demand of blood flow. Consequently, a person may develop heart failure, which is a complex situation that involves symptoms, such as shortness of breath, tiredness and swelling of ankles and feet. Such conditions are elevated to higher levels among tobacco smokers. How cardiovascular disease is caused by tobacco smoking Tobacco smoking acts on the body of an individual in several ways in order to cause cardiovascular diseases. Hence, the use of tobacco, either through chewing or smoking has a negative impact of damaging blood vessels, which results in a temporary increment of the blood pressure and reduction of the ability of a person to tolerate body exercises (Meijer et al. 2013). Further, tobacco has the impact of reducing the oxygen amount, which is carried by the blood. Thus, enhancing the development of blood clots in arteries, which have a consequence of causing several diseases of the heart. Blood clot also has an impact of resulting into stroke or sudden deaths among the individuals that consume tobacco. Second hand exposure to smoke Non-smokers who are exposed to smoke from individuals who smoke have a risk level of between 25-30 percent of contracting cardiovascular diseases. Thus, more than 600,000 people are killed from second exposure to smoke where 80 percent of these deaths are related to cardiovascular diseases. Such an exposure is experienced in cases where people work indoors and some of their colleagues are involved with smoking. Therefore, frequent exposure of a person towards smoke increases the level of risk to develop complications of heart attack. Hence, one cannot be safe by arguing that they do not smoke, but they are exposed to an environment, which is characterized of individuals that are smoking. How to quit smoking There is no established method or procedure that smokers need to adopt in order to quit smoking. This is because these procedures work best for some people in comparison to other people. Hence, a decision by a smoker to quit smoking demands preparations mentally and emotionally since it is not a quick and easy process. It is also a person desire to quit smoking and the focus should not be to please family members (Cobble 2014). This ensures that the decision cannot be reversed and the individual focused on quitting smoking is prepared for the challenges ahead. Hence, a person should decide on the date of quitting smoking, which should involve throwing away all the tobacco, ashtrays and lighters. Further, one needs to develop a plan on what aids in quitting smoking before the date of stopping. Such a plan should be developed effectively and the necessary support of quitting smoking obtained from friends and family members (Meijer et al. 2013). In addition, a person should engage the mind after quitting smoking to ensure that it is not idle and the thought of taking a cigar disappears successfully. Impact of quitting smoking After quitting smoking, the blood pressure of a person, as well as the pulse rate attains its normal functions and improvement in blood circulation is achieved. Further, chances of heart attack decline within eight hours since the level of blood oxygen increases in the body. Thus, carbon dioxide, which had accumulated in the body, is eliminated as the lungs begin the process of clearing debris and mucus (Charlson et al. 2011). This implies that lungs have the potential of holding more air and a person attains an effective normal breathing. Moreover, quitting smoking indicates that the risk of a person to contract lung cancer disease, or have a heart attack is reduced. Such occurs as cardiovascular disease risk is also eliminated. Tobacco Act Tobacco Act has established measures, which are focused on curbing tobacco smoking and protection of non-smokers from exposure towards smoke. This ensures that employees have a right of working in environments, which are free of smoking. As such, smoking is banned in restaurants, clubs and pubs (Khan et al. 2012). Such measures have been established as one of the strategies of the government to discourage citizens from smoking. Thus, anti-smoking policy is formulated, which is focused on prevention of young people to engage in smoking, protection of non-smoker from exposure in smokes, assisting people to quit smoking and reducing the number of smokers. In New York, the City Council law passed a regulation, which established that individuals that have to buy cigars should at least be of an age of 21. Such age restriction on cigarette sales aims at preventing young persons from engagement in smoking at a tender age and ensuring that people become responsible smokers. As such, smokers will minimize exposure of other persons to smoke. Moreover, shorter life expectancy, which is associated with smoking, is prevented through the age restriction (Nikpour et al. 2013). Such includes ensuring that another ill health generation does not emerge from young persons. This is because when young people try smoking at the first time they tend to be glued in it and never quit smoking. Nevertheless, the law of age restriction for cigarette sales is in line with the aim of public health to ensure that a safe generation is attained. Tobacco and stress Tobacco smoking causes anxiety and stress, which are two factors that people take for granted. They fail to realize that these two have an impact of causing the development of coronary heart disease. Further, anxiety and stress is associated with tightening of the arteries. Hence, one is vulnerable to developing higher blood pressure and increasing the risk of heart attack (Chair et al. 2007). Common cases of heart attack have indicated that emotions that individuals develop because of anger are vital role to play. Such emotions emerge from stress that a person develops after eating foods that are rich in sugar and fat or when they smoke too much. People that have high levels of cholesterol in the blood, suffers a problem of neglecting healthy lifestyles when they develop stress, but engage more in smoking activities. This implies that such individuals are not able to take their prescribed medicine and adopt poor eating habits. The consequence of such actions is the development of cases of heart attack among individuals (Larkin et al. 2010). Further, it is vital for stressed persons to find time to relax. Relaxing may be in the form of engagement in sports, breathing exercises, meditation, music, taking a walk and hobbies. These activities will facilitate in lowering the stress level of a person. Hence, an individual needs to select the activity, which is most appealing and develop a strict schedule to conduct it on a daily basis or in a routine manner. Smoking education Educational campaigns need to be established, which are focused on the dangers of smoking. Such includes explanations to general public members of the negative health effects of individuals who engage in smoking. For example, smoking causes heart diseases and makes individuals develop unhealthy behavioral habits, such as poor eating habits and laziness in terms of having body exercises. Smoking problems may be evidenced by the development of irregular breathing patterns, damage of muscles and irregular heartbeats. Cancer, obesity and stroke may also develop because of excessive consumption of alcohol in the body. As such, observation of healthy lifestyles and taking of healthy diet will aid in ensuring that individuals do not become victims of coronary heart disease (Choi Wan et al. 2011). Public campaigns should also focus on illustrating psychological therapy and medication that smokers can use in order to overcome their addition in smoking. Such is essential since smoking cessation medications have an impact of minimizing cravings, symptoms and use of smoking among individuals. Thus, physicians have a role of ensuring that individuals are able to obtain quality health by providing them with the right medication, which ensures that they are safe in their natural environment (Freedland & Carney 2013). Alternative therapies may also be adopted, which facilitate in reducing the smoking behavior among people. Such include motivational therapies, behavioral therapy, acupuncture and hypnosis. Such therapies should be considered as the effective means, which would facilitate in ensuring that smokers quit engaging in this behavior and their health status enhanced and freed from risk of cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion In conclusion, modifiable risk factors are the key strategies that individuals need to adopt in order to ensure that they minimize their risk of heart disease. This is essential since coronary heart disease does not have a single thing, which causes its development and emergence in the body of a person. However, several risk factors exist, which contribute towards its development. Hence, an individual has the ability of reducing the risk of developing coronary heart disease by focusing on eliminating modifiable risk factors, which include high blood pressure, high total cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and being physically inactive (Meijer et al. 2013). Nevertheless, any identification of the risk factors for coronary heart disease at an early stage should be addressed by seeking medication or treatment from medical professionals. Considering the intensity of the risk factors for the coronary heart disease, there is a need for creating public awareness on the risks of coronary heart disease. This includes ensuring that public members have the essential information on the modifiable risk factors and how to handle them in order to prevent the unwanted development of coronary heart disease (Larkin et al. 2010). High blood cholesterol and smoking are the key factors, which contribute in the development of mortality rates. Hence, strategies that focus on healthier lifestyle choices should be embraced, which will minimize the rate of coronary heart disease development. If all people had healthier lifestyles, this would imply that risks of developing threatening illnesses would be decreased significantly. Therefore, weight management, body exercise and having a balanced diet would contribute in reducing the rate of developing coronary heart disease. As illustrated above, modifiable risk factors present a healthy choice that individuals need to make to protect themselves from risk factors of coronary heart disease. This depicts a need for persons to make heart-healthy choices. Such choices are based on the need of adopting an effective strategy for addressing their healthy problems (Barraj et al. 2009). For example, individuals have to make a choice of adopting a better healthy lifestyle, which will contribute in ensuring that they have an effective body defense mechanism against the risk factors for the coronary heart disease. An example of a choice that people can make is becoming familiar with the various types of modifiable risk factors, which are directly connected to coronary heart disease. This will ensure that such individuals are able to protect themselves from complications that develop from such risk factors. In understanding the modifiable risk factors, individuals have to associate and analyze the impact and how to address each factor. This information is essential to a person when determining if at the risk of the coronary heart disease, the intensity or level of the risk and the best strategy that need to be adopted to control further development of the risk (Jamil et al. 2013). Moreover, public campaigns should be conducted to ensure that individuals in community comprehend the different types of modifiable risk factors for the coronary heart disease. This will generate substantial information to individuals on how to address the issue of risk factors and remain healthy at all times. Bibliography Barraj, L, Nga, T, & Mink, P 2009, A Comparison of Egg Consumption with Other Modifiable Coronary Heart Disease Lifestyle Risk Factors: A Relative Risk Apportionment Study, Risk Analysis: An International Journal, 29, 3, pp. 401-415, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 6 April 2014. Barrett-Connor, E, Bergstrom, J, Wright, C, & Kramer, C 2009, Heart Disease Risk Factors in Midlife Predict Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis More than 25 Years Later in Survivors without Clinical Heart Disease: The Rancho Bernardo Study, Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 57, 6, pp. 1041-1044, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 6 April 2014. 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