Adopt a Disease Newscast, Essay Example

Abstract

The current paper is a part of a group project, devoted to the description of a chronic health state. Health disease is the central topic of this group assignment. The paper is designed to provide introduction and conclusion to the group project and to elaborate on the major elements of the group work. These will history, etiology, affected populations, treatment, risks, prevention elements, and the disease outlook.

Introduction

Heart disease is a chronic health condition, which narrows small blood vessels that work to supply heart with blood and oxygen (The New York Times, 2009). Very often, heart disease is also called Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Needless to say that heart disease remains one of the major causes of high mortality across different population groups. In the U.S. alone, more than 15 million people are diagnosed with this health condition and thus face the risks of early death (The New York Times, 2009). The complexity of heart disease is further aggravated by the fact that it can be caused by a whole range of hereditary and environmental factors, and thus, almost every member of our society is at potential risk of becoming the victim of heart failure. Taking into account the seriousness of the issue, and bearing in mind potential complications and related factors, this group project will seek to describe heart disease in major detail. The most important elements to cover will include history, etiology, affected populations, treatment, prevention, possible risks, and the disease outlook.

The history of heart disease dates back to the ancient times, when people although lacked specific knowledge about human organism and vessels, but nevertheless realized the importance of heart and had some idea of heart problems in humans. The ancient diet played not the least role in the history of heart disease because prevalence of natural foods prevented and minimized the risks of heart disease in different populations (Braunwald, 1997). With time, and throughout the medieval times, cholesterol-related diseases began to dominate, but still the use of natural foods and the balance of carbohydrates and proteins made it possible for medieval societies to trace and control the state of their heart condition (Braunwald, 1997). Only with the emergence of the new industrial culture did heart disease turn into a major health issue – sedentary lifestyles, wrong food, smoking and stresses have become a form of a social punishment to those, who do not want to maintain good health and want to enjoy the benefits of the new industrialized culture to the fullest, including fast foods, smoking, and the lack of physical activity.

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of heart disease (The New York Times, 2009). Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty material and plaque build up on the arterial walls and narrow them (The New York Times, 2009). With narrow arteries, blood flow to the heart becomes problematic and may even stop, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, heart attack and other related symptoms (The New York Times, 2009). Men after 40 are at the highest risk of heart disease (The New York Times, 2009), but heart disease affects all population layers including women and children. The risks of heart disease increase with age. The major risk factors of heart disease include high blood pressure and diabetes, high cholesterol and the lack of physical activity, as well as smoking and obesity (The New York Times, 2009).

The symptoms of heart disease are not always readily noticeable, but chest pain is the most common sign; other symptoms may include heart attack, shortness of breath and rapid fatigue (The New York Times, 2009). The specific treatment depends on the character and complexity of symptoms and may range from simple medication to angioplasty with stenting. The most common medical preparations include beta-blockers and blood thinners, diuretics and nitrates, as well as medications which lower blood pressure (The New York Times, 2009). In heart disease, lifestyle changes may be even of higher importance than medication itself. For example, “evidence has long suggested that psychological factors can influence our risk of physical illness and death” (Anonymous, 2009). As a result, even a simple change in mood and prevalence of optimism may reduce the risk of heart disease. Of course, these should be accompanied by no smoking, regular exercises, reduced amount of salt in diet and low levels of saturated fats in foods (The New York Times, 2009). The outlook depends on the complexity of diagnosis and the quality of treatment, but generally, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better are the chances for recovery.

Conclusion

Heart disease is a chronic health condition which is responsible for millions of deaths annually. The history of heart disease dates back to the ancient times, but only in industrial societies has heart disease become the major cause of mortality. The causes and symptoms of heart disease are different, but they require timely treatment. In heart disease, lifestyle attitudes and changes are even more important than conventional medication or surgery. Smoking, fat foods, lack of physical activity altogether contribute to the development of heart disease in different population groups. Given the complexity and seriousness of the issue, it is important to monitor one’s health state and to address the emerging symptoms and complexities without any delay.

References

Anonymous. (2009). Optimism may lower your risk of heart disease. Harvard Women’s Health Watch, December. Retrieved November 21, 2009 from the UOP library database.

Braunwald, E. (1997). Heart disease: A textbook of cardiovascular medicine. Saunders.

The New York Times. (2009). Coronary heart disease. The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2009 from http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/coronary-heart-disease/overview.html