How do Youths Cope with Heart Disease
Abstract
The study ascertains that youths suffer from heart diseases and have developed measures to cope with heart diseases. The youths have been able to identify risk factors associated with heart diseases. Lifestyle, behavioural, and clinical measures have been used to cope with heart disease for youths suffering from heart problems and those who are at the risk of developing heart problems. The study has found that the environment, diet and behaviour play a critical role in determining the effectiveness of interventions used by youths in coping with heart diseases.
Concept Heart disease among youths can be managed or coped with by taking action against risk factors of heart problems. The risk factors of heart diseases include physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity, unhealthy diet, smoking, and cholesterol levels. Youths utilise lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions in managing heart diseases.
Methodology our study incorporated literature review as a secondary study method while questionnaire and interviews were used as the primary research method.
Conclusion Youths play a crucial role in managing and coping with heart disease.
Keywords Heart disease, lifestyle changes, pharmacological interventions
How do Youths Cope with Heart Disease
Introduction
Management and prevention approaches of heart diseases have always been deemed as narrow. Many of the youths have been dissociated with heart disease. Still, currently studies show that youths have the capability of developing heart diseases as they are exposed to risk factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases. The youths have taken an active role in managing and preventing heart diseases through behavioural practices and seeking knowledge from clinicians. Our study analyses the risk factors that the youths are exposed to and the interventions taken by youths and clinicians in the management of heart diseases. We found that the youths utilise pharmacological treatment, healthy eating habits, physical activity and exercise training to cope with heart disease. Active lifestyles have shown benefits in managing cardiovascular disease risk factors mainly in individual and community behaviours, and psychological behaviours. The youths have engaged in active lifestyles, including healthy eating habits. The youths are also involved in the creation of awareness as they educate other youths on skills crucial in active lifestyles as well as facilities and programs conducive to heart disease management. The study recognises the importance of youth choices and experiences in attaining appropriate heart health.
Purpose Statement The study aims to ascertain the role played by youths in coping with heart disease by developing lifestyle and pharmacological interventions of managing and minimising risks of developing heart diseases.
Literature Review
According to Aatola et al., 2014, the American Heart Association brought forward the “ideal cardiovascular health” concept. The construct rose when studies carried showed that youths who made it to the middle age phase without being exposed to heart health risk factors had a lower probability of developing heart diseases. The institution developed ideal cardiovascular health factors that included the ability of an individual to maintain a normal BMI (Body Mass Index) healthy diet adherence, smoking abstinence, right blood pressure and cholesterol levels, being physically active, and maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. The youths have a lower heart health occurrence than other groups; however, rarely do youths maintain the ideal cardiovascular health factors. This was because youths have an unhealthy lifestyle and dietary patterns. The narrative towards loss of heart health assets leads to a risk of heart health in future. However, the youths suffering from heart diseases are more active in avoiding unhealthy lifestyle and dietary habits. The AHA further recognises that statistics on youth heart health show the potential for much positive gain at the society level if heart health promotion efforts are employed. It is significant to improve heart health in youths as a priority of public health as it is an intervention and dividend of avoiding heart problems in the transition to adulthood. Prevention of risk factors is the primary treatment intervention of heart health problems in youths. The American Heart Association cites that the fundamental prevention strategies at the society and individual levels are cost-effective and aids in avoiding high costs in managing heart diseases among youths.
Heart diseases have resulted in at least 31% of deaths across the world per annum. Psaltopoulou et al. 2017 cite that the heart disease condition has always been associated with older adults, but the youths have also suffered from diseases. The authors ascertained that young people hailing from high and low-income backgrounds have a higher probability of being exposed to risk factors that result in heart disease. The risk factors of heart diseases include obesity, physical inactivity, and poor lifestyle behaviours such as smoking among others. Management of the risk factors consists of the ability of youths to develop healthy habits and active lifestyles.
According to James et al., 2019, heart diseases and problems in youths are caused by high blood pressure, stiff arteries, being overweight, and sedentary lifestyles. In their study, the authors found that youths in deprived areas were more exposed to heart disease risk factors. The foods that they would receive from well-wishers would comprise of high salt and fat, processed, and low-cost food. The youths would be more exposed to lifestyles behaviours such as smoking. The studies also found that the youths that were exposed to heart-related risk factors were more involved in activities that made them fitter. In most low-economic zones, youths were more engaged in running activities. Although the youths rarely carried out physical activities in the form of a competitive sports club, the youths usually walked to school for fitness.
Lavie et al., 2018 ascertains that lifestyle activities and behaviours lead to lifestyle diseases such as blood pressure that may result in heart diseases in youths. As such, youths should get involved in lifestyle habits that reduce the occurrence of heart disease, thus reduction and control of blood pressure. The youths should also get involved in activities that aid in maintaining healthy body weights. Youths who are overweight experience high blood pressure than individuals who are within the average body weight range. The youths should increase their physical activities and limit their salt intake. Youths should also educate each other on the dangers of habits such as cigarette smoking. Youths who smoke are warned of nicotine that reduces the size of blood vessels, making it hard for the flow of blood in the vessels, thus the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Youths are advised to develop a diet and exercise program to manage heart diseases and lowering of blood pressure.
According to Andersson & Vasan, 2018, many youths are involved in smoking, a risk factor of heart diseases leading to high mortality rates. Andersson, & Vasan, 2018 further notes that smoking increases the risk of peripheral vascular and heart diseases. Most youths who are addicted to smoking are advised that nicotine in the cigarettes put added strains to their hearts. Some youths who wish to quit smoking are barred by nicotine. The author also cites that carbon monoxide and tar present in cigarette have adverse effects on the heart. Smoking has been linked to tightening major arteries, creating irregularities in heartbeat timing, increases heartbeats, and making the functions of the heart hard. Youths coping with heart disease should be involved in education programs that address the adverse effects of smoking. Those who do not suffer from heart diseases are educated on how smoking reduces the supply of oxygen, thus leading to heart-related problems. Young people should also engage in supportive and helpful ways of quitting smoking. Through the programs, youths develop reasons as to why quitting smoking is crucial, especially in the management of heart diseases.
According to Felix et al., 2019, positive youth development is crucial in reframing heart disease treatment as prevention. The framework includes adherence to healthy dietary patterns and abstaining from tobacco as the intervention of preventing and managing heart diseases. The structure has been cited in the Healthy People 2020 initiative. The positive youth development framework focuses on each youth who is a member in terms of personal resources and assets development rather than mitigating the problems and vulnerabilities associated with heart diseases among youths. The framework provides opportunities that capitalise on the unique contributions and strengths of the youths. The youths have also taken leadership roles in educating others on ways to avoid risk factors of heart diseases. As such, the youths are also able to develop supportive youth-adult relationships, thus promoting a healthy and thriving society in terms of heart health. The youths through the program can highlight the linkage between their psychosocial wellbeing and positive youth development and heart health about adulthood. The youths engage in positive socioeconomic aspects that reduce the risk of developing negative psychosocial development. The youths are encouraged to participate in activities that promote their self-esteem, education attainment, and positive effects. The youths should spend time in positive environments that support their cognitive abilities, attention, and regulation.
Obesity among youths has been managed to prevent heart diseases. Turel et al., 2016 introduces the need for implementing lifestyle changes for managing obesity that includes controlling portions of food where the youths consume foods with fewer calories. The youths also seek other ways of rewarding themselves for good behaviour other than food consumption. Individuals get involved in family meals to regulate what they eat especially in snack consumption. The youths should also regulate time in which they watch and play with computers and in return, get involved in physical activities that they enjoy. The main risk factor for heart diseases is physical inactivity. Physical inactivity makes youth more prone to heart diseases but also increases the risk of developing other risk factors of heart disease such as cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Physical activity as a youth aids the youth in controlling weight, thus reducing the occurrence of obesity and reduces stress levels that would initiate heart problems. Physical exercises involve being engaged in riding, walking, running, and water skiing, among other activities.
According to Andonian et al., 2019, counselling is an intervention carried out by youths suffering from heart disease. Clinicians offer individual counselling on how youths can improve their mental health and improve diet as one of the interventions of decreasing heart disease risk factors. Youths who suffer from heart diseases from a tender age undergo counselling since infancy till they are aged 20 and develop a specific dietary plan. Such counselling plans take place in family dynamics and incorporate family and the youth through direct counselling. Counselling also promotes lifestyle changes among youths to manage hypertension, increase physical activity, and encourage smoking cessation. Youths engage at the community level in community-based initiatives. The youths ensure that they consume regulated diets in community food outlets. Youths act as providers who advocate for structural and social changes that determine heart health behaviours at the community level.
Jankowska-Polańska et al., 2017 cites that some of the risk factors associated with heart diseases require pharmacological treatment for management. The youth cope with heart disease risk factors depending on the treatment interventions. Hypertension is managed by seeking blood pressure check-ups for every check-up at the health care centre. The young adults aged between 17 and 21 undergo cholesterol screening to maintain their cholesterol levels. Overweight teens are advised to undergo diabetic tests. Youths with Type 2 diabetes are offered metformin monotherapy to maintain normal glucose levels. Youths suffering from smoking or tobacco use dependence undergo nicotine replacement therapy in combination with behavioural support.
Problem Statement
Heart disease is not one of the primary cause of mortality amongst youths in the US, although it is a cause of deaths among adults. However, youths also experience deaths as a result of heart diseases. A variety of risk factors exist in the management of heart disease. The youths cope with heart disease by controlling the risk factors. The youths can cope with heart disease by managing smoking, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, and obesity which are the risk factors of the heart disease.
Methodology
Information on how youths coped with heart disease would be collected from youths suffering from heart disease and clinicians who have attended to youths suffering from heart disease. The samples would be obtained from a local health care facility. We also sought information from the youths from low and high-economic regions exposed to heart disease risk factors. Questionnaires and oral interviews would be used with the number of participants being a hundred.
Secondary sources of information on how youths cope with heart diseases are sourced from peer-reviewed journals. The authors have defined ways in which the youths cope with heart disease at the individual, community, and clinical level. The studies are based on different hypothesis. First, how do the youths cope with heart disease concerning the lifestyle and behavioural changes? Secondly, what do youths take steps in the clinical perspective in dealing with heart disease risk factors? Thirdly, what do the youths undertake the interventions at the community level in coping with heart disease?
Results
The studies showed that youths cope with heart disease by managing risk factors associated with heart disease, whether they are suffering from cardiovascular diseases, or they are preventing future occurrence of heart diseases. Eighty per cent of youths with heart diseases felt that a combination of lifestyle and pharmacological measures were effective in coping with heart diseases. Ninety per cent of youths who were exposed to heart disease risk factors believed that lifestyle changes, mainly smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical exercise, were vital in preventing future occurrence of heart disease. Sixty per cent of all youths engaged in community youth development frameworks that promoted healthy lifestyles in management, prevention, and coping with heart disease among youths. Fifty per cent of youths participating in the study sought heart disease counselling services from clinicians to understand ways of coping with heart disease. The clinicians ascertained the active engagement of youths seeking information on heart disease and measures of coping with the ailment.
Discussion and Significance of Findings
Heart diseases that have previously been termed as the “old man’s disease” have increased notably in young people. The American Heart Association has cited that the young generation is suffering from heart attacks and other related diseases and seeks to investigate why young people are affected by heart diseases. The young people have become involved in reducing and managing heart diseases. Individual and population approach towards supporting positive heart health behaviours among youths is the foundation in the preservation of heart health and promotion of positive cardiovascular outcomes. The youths have been seen as an entity that defines a sum of risk factors but are instead a dynamic youth population who are capable of making heart-healthy choices. The youths suffering from heart health conditions and youths exposed to risk factors are encouraged to form a positive youth development framework. The framework informs on prevention of heart problem prevention among youths in a proactive and broad-based manner paying attention to familial, social, and developmental factors underlying the behaviours in heart health and implementing evidence-based behaviour and pharmacological treatment and management. Based on our findings, the adolescence age group is the best stage in which heart problems are managed and provides a platform for ensuring better cardiovascular health later in life.
Providers of care accessed by youths are crucial in developing frameworks in which the youths develop appropriate medication adherence and lifestyle choices. The approaches offer strength to the youth as they engage in health behaviour decisions. Every youth’s resources and assets are incorporated in making decisions and solving the heart disease problem.
It is crucial to understand that Pharmacological treatment is key in the management of heart disease among youth. Medication is offered in maintaining blood and glucose levels to cope with heart diseases. Pharmacological treatment of smoking is crucial in extreme cases as being exposed to nicotine is toxic to the developing brain of a young person. Nicotine replacement therapy aids in abstaining from smoking. The youths have shown their support to the need for healthy lifestyles and pharmacological treatment as ways of coping with heart disease.
Conclusions
It is significant to preserve ideal heart health and prevent health diseases among youths. Youths can cope with heart diseases by implementing measures at the individual, community, and clinical levels. The interventions applied by youths include lifestyle changes and pharmacological measures. More research on ways youths cope with heart disease should focus on behavioural strategies that increase and maintain physical health as well as the amount of exercise that can alter heart disease risks. More research should focus on the effects of lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions on cost-effectiveness, mortality and morbidity.
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