The Epidemiology of Heart Disease - Article Example

The Epidemiology of Heart Disease “Heart failure is thought by many physicians and researchers to have the ic characteristics of an epidemic”(Moser, 2001, p. XV). When discussing topics of epidemiology, we usually think of outbreaks of diseases which can effect a community and continue to spread, unless isolated. Additionally, it is common to assume that diseases which threaten to become epidemics, are lurking amongst the routine germs that everyone is exposed to regularly. Many diseases which act in this way are not as preventable as others. This however, does not means that they cannot be an epidemic. One of such disease is heart disease. Heart disease is already an epidemic and threatens to become pandemic if not proactively prevented. It is not a communicable disease, but yet it is one which threatens a huge portion of the population. The purpose of this discussion is to approach the issue of heart disease from an epidemiological standpoint in order to analyze how data relating to the topic may be used in a healthcare setting with regards to decision making concerning limited healthcare resources. When saying that heart diseases is not communicable, it is meant that it is not like a bacterial or viral infection which is transferred from host to host or in an airborne manner. It is however, a disease which is more likely to occur in those who have a genetic predisposition for it. This does not necessarily mean that an individual with a family history of heart disease which actually get it. In fact, preventing heart disease is most important among those who have a family history of it. Some individuals may have more than one family member who has suffered form CHD, which elevates that individual’s CDH risk factor along with the ages of onset within the person’s family. By looking at a few different factors regarding patient history and lifestyle, physicians may establish a personal score for that individual which represents their likelihood of contracting CHD. The benefit that we have over CHD is that it is manageable and predictable (Supino et al, 2002, p.130). Heart disease can be prevented by following the guidelines of a healthy lifestyle which are balanced between diet and exercise as well as avoiding alcohol and tobacco. The chances of acquiring heart disease, are associated with overeating or high fat, high cholesterol diets. Those who live a sedentary lifestyle are also at a higher risk for heart disease. Stress or the improper handling of stress is also linked to heart disease. Certainly, lowering one’s risk factor for CHD lies within one’s own hands. Despite this, millions of people suffer and ultimately die from it, annually. As determined by the World Health Organization, it is calculated that roughly 12 million people die from CHD each and every year, “Worldwide, One third of all deaths each year, are due to cardiovascular diseases” (Lindsey et al, 2004, p.1). Again, if the discussion at hand was an aggressive pathogen such as Ebola or MRSA, the human race would be either an endangered species or extinct. Of course, Ebola takes only a few days to kill an individual and CHD may take years, but never the less, individuals suffering from CHD is of mass proportion, especially considering its preventability (Roa et al, 1983, p.15). Heart disease can be expressed in a number of forms; elevated blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, vascular disease, coronary artery disease and/ or strokes. Obesity and the use of alcohol and tobacco are also factors which contribute to poor cardiac health. When looking at a preventative approach to prevention, it is important to consider family dynamics as opposed to simply focusing on individual prevention. The majority of individuals worldwide live within some sort of family unit. It is much more feasible to educate the public on approaching prevention as a unit versus individuals. This translates to meals which are low in fat and cholesterol, sodium and fat. This also means activities which encourage family members to be physically active instead of sedentary. The approach to CHD prevention which focuses on family units within a social community must consider that many families do not dine together frequently or even spend enough time with one another daily to allow for a group endeavor in activity. Educating the public however, on how to regroup family dynamics in such a way that meals and activities be participated as a group, is most likely going to be the most effective and logical approach to reducing the number of deaths related to CHD annually. Like most diseases, CHD shows a higher trend in one sex over another. It is in fact, much more likely for men to acquire heart disease than woman, with regards to the U.S. This applies to women up to about middle age. When considering women beyond middle age, the statistical data begins to distribute itself more equally between men and women. This can possibly be contributed to the demand which society places on younger and middle aged women to diet, exercise and avoid obesity. Society’s focus on male value is not nearly as appearance based as it is with regards to women. In fact, it is much more for a man to be slightly to moderately overweight than it is for woman (Labarthe, 1998, p.15). Based on the data discussed so far, it is important to consider the occurrence of CHD within a hospital setting such that a determination of resource allocation can be arrived at. In the event that healthcare resources are limited (and typically they are), prevention through education is critical. Let us say that hospital X is the health care facility being discussed and it is the main medical center for given, small community. If it is known that men are more at risk for CHD while woman over the middle aged bracket, are most susceptible to CHD, classes which offer information on a healthy diet and exercise regimen would be an excellent and productive way to being the process of prevention. A myriad of classes which focus on preventative behavior, will ultimately reduce the occurrences of CHD thereby utilizing less resources. In many hospital deaths, an individual may be noted as suffering from a “premature disease” as a cause of death, “The very label ‘premature’ disease implies that an acceptance that CHD may be a frequent mode of exit when, an old person eventually dies and that it is premature disease that claims attention.”(Marmot et al, 1992, p. 4). It is as though many have assumed that something as common as heart disease is just an expected sign of one’s age and is to be accepted as a mode of death or a means to an end. This type of ideology is exactly why the epidemic continues. To continue examining routes to isolate and contain , so to speak, CHD, whereby minimizing resource usage, strategy must extend beyond the offering of classes. Many who are currently or most likely going to suffer from CHD will probably find themselves within a hospital due to obesity or poor health, prior to ever being diagnosed with CHD. This is an ideal opportunity for health care professionals to examine a patient’s lifestyle in order to identify at risk behaviors taking place. In the event that a patient who is obese, becomes a patient at the hospital in question, as part of their take home list of orders, exercise and heart healthy foods should be strongly suggested. This is another angle of taking hold of the educational and preventative angle of managing or eliminating the heart disease epidemic. Obese patients may begin a heart healthy diet during their hospital stay as well, in order to get them started on the correct path towards, health. It is quite possible that all of the generalizing which occurs with heart disease, aids in its lack of ability to concern so many individuals worldwide. It is as though the majority of people, based on the statistical data suggesting that 33% of the deaths around the world which occur annually, are the result of CHD. Additionally, it is difficult to grasp the impact of CHD on lives and health without having known or seen someone die from it or suffer with it. When individuals are able to experience a look at CHD in the event that it has afflicted a friend or a loved one, they are more prone to desire to avoid it. It is those who don’t believe that such a disease could possibly happen to them, that do not actively avoid behavior leading to CHD. This is why educating is such a crucial aspect of prevention. In summary, though heart disease is more probable in those who have a genetic predisposition to it, each and every person in the world can easily be at risk for CDH based on the type of lifestyle they lead. Those who do not properly maintain a healthy lifestyle due to simply not wanting to commit or bother, are essentially relying on the very limited resources which this discussion aims to attempt to allocate. The medical industry cannot simply turn individuals away due to needing medical treatment for self-induced illness, but it can utilize a portion of medical resources to initiate preventative behavior, on as large of a level as possible. This is a somewhat advanced approach to budgeting out medically necessary resources. An investment in reasonable amount of educational and preventative tools, is ultimately the most prudent approach to affording the ability to conserve medical resources for the overall community. Works Cited: Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., Kjellstrom, Tord., (2007), Basic Epidemiology, World Health Organization. Dabeeru, C., (1994), Genetic Epidemiology of Coronary Heart Disease, , A.R. Liss., St. Louis, Missouri. Hurst, John, Willis., Fuster, Valentin., Alexander, Wayne., O’Rourke, Robert. A., (2004), Hurst’s the Heart, McGraw Hill, New York. Labarthe, Darwin., (1998), Etiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, New York. Lindsey, Grace., Gaw, Allen., (2004) Coronary Heart Disease: Epidemiology, Pathology and Diagnosis, Elsevier Medical Publidhers, New York. Marmot, M.G., Elliot, Paul. (1992), Coronary Heart Disease Epidemiology: From Etiology to Public Health, London, Oxford University Press. Moser, Deborah, K., Reigel, Barbara, (2001), Improving Outcomes in Heart Failure, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, New York. Roa, D.C., (1983), Genetic Epidemiology of Coronary Heart Disease, A.R. Liss, St. Louis Missouri. Supino,. Phyllis., Borer, Jeffrey S., Yin, Andrew, (2002), Pathophysiology, Evaluation and Management of Valvular Heart Disease, Karg Publishers, New York. Saheta, S.H., (1969), Coronary Heart Disease, Kothari Books, Michigan. Read More