Heart Disease Report Assessment
Asking a question
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world. It is a condition that negatively influences the normal functioning of the heart leading to severe health risks such as heart attack or stroke. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease causes approximately 31% of deaths in the world. In the United States, cardiovascular diseases have been associated with around 647,000 deaths which translated to one death per every 37 seconds and 1 in every four deaths is associated with heart diseases (Wardoku et al., 2019). Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease that has been associated with more deaths annually, approximately 365,000. About 6% of the American population has coronary heart disease (Nanda, 2019).
In an article published by Endocrinology Advisor, the risk factors of heart disease differ based on the type of heart disease and the underlying health condition. The article provides information based on the underlying diabetes type 1 condition. The article identifies that the risk factors that were identified include soft coronary heart diseases, glycemic control and systolic blood pressure. The difference in risk factors as identified in the findings addressed in the article present a greater emphasis on the fact that presence of underlying health condition has a different influence on the presence of heart disease (Meissner, 2020). In another article published in America Heart Association, it stressed that trauma in children is associated with increased risk of heart disease and early death. The article highlight that children who are exposed to physical, verbal and emotional trauma were 50% more likely to develop heart diseases. This high development is based on the fact that children who live in such situation focus on poor coping strategies which can negatively influence their healthy ((American Heart Association, 2020).
Different studies have been conducted which present a clear emphasis on the various factors that have been investigated as predictors of heart disease. According to Dhingra and Vasan (2012), an increase in age is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Older adults are more likely to develop heart-related diseases as compared to younger individuals. The findings also suggest that the burden of increased risk of heart disease associated with age can be controlled through the modification of traditional existing risk factors. In another study conducted by O’Neil et al. (2018), it showed that men had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as compared to women. Lamonte (2019) conducted a study that focused on examining the physical activity, fitness, and the presence of cardiovascular disease. Heart diseases and accompanying clinical complications that arise are mainly controlled through defined primary and secondary interventions. Higher levels of self-reported physical exercise have significantly been associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Thus the findings observed that individuals attaining 8 MET-h/week in moderate to vigorous activities have a 14 to 20% reduced chance of developing heart disease.
The increasing prevalence of heart disease presents the need to develop better interventions that can help in controlling the occurrence of these conditions. Identification of risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases has been a major concern. This is because determining the specific risk factors related to the development of heart diseases will help in limiting the condition through control of these risk factors. Different studies have been conducted providing a different understanding of various factors that are likely to have a significant influence on heart disease development (Nanda, 2019). Therefore a critical question that forms the basis of this study is what are the significant predictors of cardiovascular diseases.
Data
Heart disease is a common issue that has been widely investigated, although there exist different data that focus on highlighting the magnitude of the problem. However, obtaining data that provide an assessment on various risk factors has always been a challenge since prior studies have focused on given selected factors which limit the scope. Thus, the sites that have been engaged in this case include the United States Census Data and the home of the U.S. Government’s open data. The search terms used include ‘heart disease’, ‘cardiovascular disease’, ‘predictors of heart disease’ and ‘determinants of heart disease.’
The information that was different in each of the two links that were used. The census data found information on American heart month while the US government link provided information on mortality of heart diseases. Based on the research question under consideration, it is difficult to obtain a single dataset that includes information on all of the predictors of heart disease as a result of different comorbidities that might exist and negatively influence the outcomes. However, it is possible to obtain a dataset that provides demographic information and presence of heart disease.
Methods
The evaluation methods in education have been adequately identified, which present the need to help understand the processes that are employed in each case. The interesting things, as observed from the link, include evaluation methods in health education. Health education is broad and incorporates different aspects which can help in creating a more substantial system where medical students can learn and understand the concepts that are being discussed. The two approaches, in this case, are podcasts and concept mapping.
Podcasts are essential in an auditory learning context. The need to build strong learning for change is necessary in health education. It allows students to develop better skills such as research, speaking, problem-solving and time management.
Concept mapping provides a more excellent visual context where it is possible to help maintain improved measures that promote change and essential elements that define change. Building change allows for integration. Illustration and visual graphics help in understanding complex content. Health learning is complex and incorporates a greater emphasis on improved theory and practical knowledge.
References
American Heart Association. (2020). Traumatic childhood increases lifelong risk for heart disease, early death. Retrieved May 06, 2020, from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/04/28/traumatic-childhood-increases-lifelong-risk-for-heart-disease-early-death
Kose, T. (2019). Gender differences in heart diseases: Evidence from Turkey. Health Policy and Technology, 8(1), 67-74.
LaMonte, M. J. (2019). Physical activity, fitness, and coronary heart disease. In Cardiorespiratory fitness in cardiometabolic diseases (pp. 295-318). Springer, Cham.
Meissner, M. (2020, April 23). Risk Factors Differ by First Cardiovascular Disease Manifestations in Type 1 Diabetes. Retrieved May 06, 2020, from https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/diabetes/type-1-diabetes/risk-factors-differ-by-first-cardiovascular-disease-manifestations-in-type-1-diabetes/
Nanda, H. (2019). Getting to the Heart of the Matter. Quality Progress, 52(4), 38-45.
O’Neil, A., Scovelle, A. J., Milner, A. J., & Kavanagh, A. (2018). Gender/sex as a social determinant of cardiovascular risk. Circulation, 137(8), 854-864.
Wardoku, R., Blair, C., Demmer, R., & Prizment, A. (2019). Association between physical inactivity and health-related quality of life in adults with coronary heart disease. Maturitas, 128, 36-42.