Key Concepts in Health Promotion - Essay Example

Key Concepts in Health Promotion A ment of the Topic Health promotion is an issue that has taken much weight in most of the governments. A number of diseases can be treated and prevented if the right measures are taken. Despite the efforts of the government and other agencies to treat and prevent these diseases, little or none is known among the population concerning these diseases (their cause, and treatment and/or prevention). Health promotion offers this awareness to all the stakeholders involved. In the context of coronary heart disease, prevention is all about the adoption of the ‘right lifestyle’. It is thus imperative to promote health in the best way in order to treat and prevent majority of these diseases and thus increase the life expectancy. Introduction The assignment will cover the concept of health promotion and its challenges. It will also cover the present situation of coronary heart disease in the United Kingdom and what the government and other partner agencies are doing to promote health among the population in the United Kingdom. Health Promotion Health promotion can be defined as the process of allowing the individuals to have control over the health determinants and thus improving their health. It is a set of practical strategies and a concept and it remains to be an essential guide when addressing the main health challenges that are faced by both the developing and the developing countries. It also includes the non-communicable and communicable diseases, and other issues that are related to the health and human development (Health Promotion Agency 2009, p1). The main aim of health promotion is to strengthen the capabilities and skills of the people to take action and the capacity of the communities and groups to act in a collective manner to exert control over the health determinants and attain a positive change (Health Promotion Agency 2009, p1). There are certain prerequisites that are required in the promotion of health and they include; enough and well distributed economic resources, peace, clean water, shelter and food, sustainable resource use, access to the basic human rights, and clean water. The failure to meet all these challenges remains the main goal for all the activities that are directed towards social, health and economic development (Health Promotion Agency 2009, p1). Heart Disease in the UK Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading killer disease in the United Kingdom; it is estimated that around 1 in 5 men and 1 in 7 women die from CHD. The disease is estimated to cause approximately 94,000 deaths per annum in the United Kingdom (UK). In the UK, approximately 2.6 million people live with the disease and an estimated 2 million people are affected by angina (a common symptom of the coronary heart disease). The disease affects more men than women and older people at a risk of developing the disease (Directgov 2010, p1). Coronary heart disease refers to what occurs when the heart’s blood supply is interrupted or blocked by the build up of the fatty substances in the coronary arteries. With time, the arteries are filled up with the fatty deposits (they are also known as atheroma), a process known as atherosclerosis. If the coronary arteries become thin due to the atheroma build up, then the heart blood supply is restricted and this causes angina (chest pains). When the coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it leads to heart attack (myocardial infarction) (Directgov 2010, p1). Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease The treatment of coronary heart disease is dependent on its seriousness. There are a number of treatments that are available and the best treatment option is surgery or angioplasty. There are a number of medications available for the treatment of coronary heart disease. The main aim of the medicines is to prevent the coronary heart disease from getting worse or to stop further heart attacks. The following are examples of such medicines: Aspirin (an anti-platelet medicine) – the intake of 75mg of aspirin as a daily dose reduces the likelihood of the blood to form clots and thus reducing the risk of developing heart attack. Statins (cholesterol lowering medicine) – the medicine slows down the atherosclerosis process. Beta-blockers – these medicines reduce the blood pressure and the intensity of the work done by the heart. Calcium channel blockers – they widen and relax the arteries. Anticoagulants – they prevent the formation of blood clots. ACE inhibitors – they lower the blood pressure and they are commonly used in individuals with heart attack or heart failure. Nitrates- they relax the coronary arteries and permit more blood to reach the heart. Anti-arrhythmic medicines – they assist in the control of the heart rhythm. There are non-surgical treatments available such as the coronary angioplasty; the process involves the passage of a collapsed balloon through the blood vessels until it arrives at the heart arteries, the balloon is inflated to widen the narrowed coronary artery. Surgical treatment involves taking a piece of a blood vessel from the leg or the chest and utilizes it to bypass the coronary artery that has been narrowed by the fatty deposits; the bypass allows the heart to access more blood. The procedure is known as the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (Bupa Health Information Team 2010, p1). Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is preventable and this involves the individuals adopting a healthy lifestyle. The chances of having a heart attack can be reduced by: Avoiding smoking. Doing regular physical activities for a period of up to 30 minutes for at least five days in a week. Losing excess weight. Not going beyond 4 units of alcohol in a day for men or 3 units for the women. Eating a diet with high fibre and low fat with 5 portions of vegetables and fruits in a day and 2 portions (one oily) of fish a week (Bupa Health Information Team 2010, p1). Coronary Heart Disease Health Promotion Strategy in the United Kingdom There are a number of publications policy and guidance enacted in the United Kingdom; these publications policy and guidance are aimed at promoting health among the population. A publications policy and guidance of great significance in this context is the Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework. The framework has four standards: 1. Standard One The National Health Service (NHS) and the partner agencies are supposed to create, implement, and monitor policies that assist in the reduction of coronary risk factors prevalence in the population. The policies should also decrease the inequalities associated with the risk of developing a heart disease. 2. Standard Two The NHS and the partner agencies are supposed to contribute to the reduction of the prevalence of smoking among the local population. 3. Standard Three The primary care teams and the general practitioners are supposed to identify all individuals with cardiovascular disease and provide them with a comprehensive advice and proper treatment to minimize the risks (Directgov 2011, p1). 4. Standard Four The primary care teams and the general practitioners are supposed to identify all the individuals who are at a considerable risk of cardiovascular but they have not developed the symptoms of the disease; they should provide them with the proper advice and treatment to minimize the risks (Directgov 2011, p1). A good example is the role of the Community Health Partnerships in the improvement of health in Scotland. The present policy puts the Community Health Partnership (CHS) in a good position to offer social and health care redesign and delivery. The improvement of heath in Scotland has resulted in the reduction of death from the ‘Big 3’ killers (Stroke, CHD and Cancer) and the increase in the life expectancy. The CHPs (Community Health Partnerships) have a major role to play and it is expected that they work with the local partners and communities to; (a) prevent ill health also known as primary prevention, (b) recognize and treat mental and physical health problems [this is referred to as secondary prevention] (Community Health Partnership n.d., p1), (c) make sure to reach those at risk of ill health (mental and physical) and those who have poor life situations, (d) be creative in regard to the refocusing of the delivery of initiatives and services to enhance the access to and the uptake of services in order to ensure equity of the health outcomes, and (e) make sure that those who work to attain heath improvement are integrated into the CHP work (Community Health Partnership n.d., p2). Conclusion Coronary heart disease is a disease that can be treated and prevented. The adoption of the proper lifestyle is very vital in the prevention of coronary heart disease. The government in the United Kingdom has developed a number of health promotion policies for the prevention of coronary heart disease. The initiative taken by the Scotland government in health promotion is an example of how health promotion can assist in the reduction of death from killer diseases and the increase in the life expectancy. References Bupa Health Information Team. (2010) Coronary heart disease [Online], Bupa. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Calnan, M. (1995) The role of the general practitioner in health promotion in the UK: The case of coronary heart disease prevention. Patient Education and Counseling, 25(3), pp301-304. Community Health Partnership. (n.d.) Community health partnerships and health improvement [Online]. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Directgov (2009) Healthy living [Online], Department of Health. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Directgov. (2010) Coronary heart disease [Online], Department of Health. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Directgov. (2010) Coronary heart disease [Online], NHS Choices. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Directgov. (2011) Access to mainstream health promotion and disease prevention programmes [Online], Department of Health. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Health Evidence Bulletins Wales (n.d.) Coronary heart disease [Online]. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Health Promotion Agency. (2009) What is health promotion? [Online]. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. NHS. (2006) Coronary heart disease (CHD) [Online], NHS. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST). (2010) Coronary heart disease [Online], HealthKnowledge. Available from [Accessed 23 May 2011]. Read More