The promotion of stroke and heart diseases - Research Paper Example

Promotion of stroke and heart diseases Abstract Stoke and heart diseases are some of the modern day diseases that affect individuals regardless of age, ethnicity, gender and race. However, studies have pointed out that these diseases are easier to prevent than to manage. Hence, a number of promotional activities have been recommended to attain the same and reduce the prevalence of these diseases in America by 2020. Blood pressure, high cholesterol intake and unhealthy lifestyle are some of the aspects that have been pointed out to be major causes of stroke and heart diseases, therefore the promotion activities should aim at creating awareness on ways of avoiding high blood pressure. This essay therefore explores the aforementioned elements in detail. Promotion of stroke and heart diseases Stroke and heart diseases are the third and the first reported diseases respectively that result into high death rate in both men and women in the United States of America. Additionally, they are considered to be the major widespread and high cost diseases that most nations have to deal with. However, it is important for citizens to take the initiative in order to prevent these particular diseases. This is because these type of diseases can be easily prevented and thus reduce the death rates caused by the same. According to research carried out by Smoller et al (2007) 33.6 % of total number of deaths that occurred in the United States of America were as a result of either stroke or other forms of heart diseases. Statistics further indicates that 150,000 deaths that occurred in 2007 in American were individuals below the age of 65. Moreover the aforementioned diseases not only cause death but also disability with more than 4 million cases in the United States has been caused by the same. Moreover, it can be pointed out that high death rates caused by both stroke and heart diseases are not the only problem these diseases. In 2010, the cost of treating these diseases was approximated to be $444 in the United States of America. Furthermore, the cost of treatment for these two diseases is approximately $1 for every $ 6 spent in treating other forms of illness in the United States of America (Smoller et al., 2007).Therefore, treatment of both stroke and heart diseases impacts negatively on the funds and other resources of the country’s health care scheme. However, over the past years the rate of death caused by stroke and heart related illness has reduced considerable in the United States of America. Therefore, it is expected to reduce even further by 2020. However, among certain populations the incidences of the diseases in addition to death rates have remained high. For instance it has been reported that the diseases is commonly prevalent among certain ethnic and racial groups to be specific individuals living in South Eastern regions of the United States of America and those who experience low social economic status. A study carried out by Smoller et al (2007) indicated that African Americans are at a risk of dying from cardiovascular disease as compared to their white counterparts. Additionally, the percentage of women diagnosed with stroke annually is higher than that of men. Moreover, another study carried out by Karasek (1996) reported that American Indian and natives from Alaska have reported high percentage of premature deaths as a result of heart diseases as compared to other ethnic or racial groups in the United States of America. It is important to note that stroke and other forms of heart diseases are easier to prevent rather than to treat. Therefore individuals need to lead a positive lifestyle (Karasek, 1996).Tobacco smoking is one of the factors that can increase the chances of one suffering from either heart disease or stroke. Hence individuals are encouraged to stop smoking. Moreover, people should have a healthy weight and ensure that they are physically active (Kawachi et al., 1994). More importantly, it is important for people to watch out for the type of diet they feed on. This is because studies have reported that poor diets especially fatty foods, excessive tobacco smoking, lack of exercise increases the chances of one suffering from heart diseases by 75%, risk of cardiovascular by 75% and stroke by approximately 63% (Albert et al, 2005). Moreover, there is need to put in place strategies that will ensure that Americans are practicing healthy lifestyles and this can be achieved by creating awareness on the importance of practicing healthier lifestyles. Moreover, it important that the society are educated on various means of controlling their blood pressure levels as high blood pressure can result to either stroke or other forms of heart diseases. Additionally, the public should be educated on the importance of putting a check on the level of cholesterol intake so that they can reduce the risks of suffering from either stroke or other forms of heart diseases (Albert et al, 2005). Moreover, health care programs should ensure that American citizens can easily access appropriate treatment at early states of diagnosis by ensuring that the medical facilities are not only affordable but also accessible to all. This will further result into reduction in the death and disability rates in the United States of America as a result of either stroke or heart disease (Kawachi et al., 1994). Studies have indicated that taking too much sodium results into high blood pressure. Research has further revealed sodium that high percentage of individuals takes come from already processed foods in addition to fast food. There is important for health care organizations such as CDC to promote, national, state and local strategies that will ensure that the level of sodium intake is reduced to considerable level (Karasek, 1996). Moreover, CDC should aim at meeting both private and public shareholders with an aim of not only monitoring sodium intake but also enhancing changes in the supply of food. Additionally, more research should be carried out regarding the effects of sodium in relation to stroke and heart diseases and the findings made available to the public. Another study carried in Kansas indicated that high blood pressure increases the chances of one suffering from either stroke or other forms of heart diseases (Karasek, 1996). Thus, heart disease and stroke prevention officials from the state have put in place clinics that will provide guidelines and materials to the public on various ways of preventing and managing high blood pressure. In regard to the same, Montana’s cardiovascular collaborating with other clinics in the region with an aim assisting residents who are having blood pressures to control the same in collaboration with other clinics within the region. In conclusion, unless people change their lifestyle and effective programs put in place to manage both stroke and all forms of heart diseases, the prevalence of these diseases will increase in the United States of America. Additionally, doctors and physicians should educate the populations about the signs and symptoms of stroke and heart diseases (Albert et al, 2005).These is because stroke and heart diseases signs and are similar to those of other diseases and they can be mistaken to be of other forms of illness an aspect that can result into death of the patients. Research have shown that symptoms of stroke and heart diseases include pain in jaw or the neck, angina, pain in the chest, extreme chest pressure and pain in the left among other symptoms which can be mistaken to be either heartburn or severe indigestion (Smolleret al., 2007). References Albert CM, et al (2005). Phobic anxiety and risk of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death among women. Circulation. 111:480–487. Karasek, R. (1996). Job strain and the prevalence and outcome of coronary artery disease. Circulation. ;94:1140–1141. Kawachi, I. et al. (1994). Symptoms of anxiety and risk of coronary heart disease. The Normative Aging Study. Circulation.;90:2225–2229. Rees, K. et al. (2004). (Psychological interventions for coronary heart disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2:CD002902. Smoller. J.W, et al. (2007).Panic attacks and risk of incident cardiovascular events among postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Arch General Psychiatry. 64:1153–1160. Read More