1. The learner will be able to define heart disease
2. The learner will be able to identify heart disease risk factors
3. The learner will be able to identify prevention strategies to reduce the risk of heart disease
Monday, May 16, 2011
Heart Disease Defined
The body has a network of blood vessels including the Arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood Away from the heart and the veins that carry oxygen-poor blood to the heart. Problems with the arteries, like stiffening or plaque build-up, can lead to impaired blood flow to vital organs-including the heart itself. Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions with the most common being coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease can cause myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina (chest pain), heart failure, and arrhythmias (disruption in the rhythm of the heart beat).
What you need to know about: RISK FACTORS
Some conditions and lifestyle factors place people at a higher risk for developing heart disease.
Conditions:
1) Blood Cholesterol Levels: AKA atherosclerosis. Too much cholesterol in the body causes this waxy substance to stick to the inside of blood vessel walls-including vessels supplied to the heart. This can lead to narrowing of the arteries causing reduced blood flow and heart disease.
2) High Blood Pressure: if pressure of the blood in the arteries is too high it increases the risk for heart disease and heart attack. There are often no signs of high blood pressure-giving it the nickname "the silent killer".
3) Diabetes Mellitus: sugar build up in the blood can damage blood vessels.
Behaviors:
4) Tobacco Use: increases blood pressure, reduces oxygen in the blood, promotes atherosclerosis & increases levels of blood clotting factors
5) Diet: diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol promote the likelihood of atherosclerosis & diets high in salt (sodium) raise blood pressure
6) Physical Inactivity: is related to heart disease and risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and diabetes.
7) Obesity: excess body fat is linked to high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
8) Alcohol: excessive alcohol use raises blood pressure and increases levels of triglycerides
Conditions:
1) Blood Cholesterol Levels: AKA atherosclerosis. Too much cholesterol in the body causes this waxy substance to stick to the inside of blood vessel walls-including vessels supplied to the heart. This can lead to narrowing of the arteries causing reduced blood flow and heart disease.
2) High Blood Pressure: if pressure of the blood in the arteries is too high it increases the risk for heart disease and heart attack. There are often no signs of high blood pressure-giving it the nickname "the silent killer".
3) Diabetes Mellitus: sugar build up in the blood can damage blood vessels.
Behaviors:
4) Tobacco Use: increases blood pressure, reduces oxygen in the blood, promotes atherosclerosis & increases levels of blood clotting factors
5) Diet: diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol promote the likelihood of atherosclerosis & diets high in salt (sodium) raise blood pressure
6) Physical Inactivity: is related to heart disease and risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and diabetes.
7) Obesity: excess body fat is linked to high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
8) Alcohol: excessive alcohol use raises blood pressure and increases levels of triglycerides
What you need to know about: PREVENTION
What you can do to live a healthy lifestyle:
1) Eat a Healthy Diet: Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, eat foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol, & salt and include foods high in fiber.
2) Maintain a Healthy Weight: Have your doctor calculate your body mass index (BMI) and help you develop of plan to lose excess weight.
3) Exercise Regularly: It is recommended that adults engage in moderate intensity exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
4) Do Not Smoke: If you don't smoke-don't start. If you do smoke-ask your doctor for ways to quit.
5) Limit Alcohol Use: Avoid drinking too much alcohol
See the CDC's nutrition, physical activity and obesity webpage
See the CDC's Healthy Weight webpage
See the CDC's Tobacco information webpage
See the CDC's Alcohol & Public Health webpage
What you can do to treat your medical conditions:
1)Have your cholesterol checked: Have your health care provider test your cholesterol levels at least once every five years.
2) Monitor your blood pressure: Since high blood pressure often has no symptoms-get it checked regularly.
3) Manage your diabetes: Closely monitor your blood sugar levels & talk with your health care provider about your treatment plan.
4) Take your medicine as prescribed: Follow your doctor's instructions carefully if you take medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or diabetes.
5) Talk with your health care provider: Discuss your treatment plan regularly & write down questions to bring to your appointments.
1) Eat a Healthy Diet: Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, eat foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol, & salt and include foods high in fiber.
2) Maintain a Healthy Weight: Have your doctor calculate your body mass index (BMI) and help you develop of plan to lose excess weight.
3) Exercise Regularly: It is recommended that adults engage in moderate intensity exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
4) Do Not Smoke: If you don't smoke-don't start. If you do smoke-ask your doctor for ways to quit.
5) Limit Alcohol Use: Avoid drinking too much alcohol
See the CDC's nutrition, physical activity and obesity webpage
See the CDC's Healthy Weight webpage
See the CDC's Tobacco information webpage
See the CDC's Alcohol & Public Health webpage
What you can do to treat your medical conditions:
1)Have your cholesterol checked: Have your health care provider test your cholesterol levels at least once every five years.
2) Monitor your blood pressure: Since high blood pressure often has no symptoms-get it checked regularly.
3) Manage your diabetes: Closely monitor your blood sugar levels & talk with your health care provider about your treatment plan.
4) Take your medicine as prescribed: Follow your doctor's instructions carefully if you take medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or diabetes.
5) Talk with your health care provider: Discuss your treatment plan regularly & write down questions to bring to your appointments.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Heart disease. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2011). Vascular diseases. In Medline Plus. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vasculardiseases.html
World Health Organization. (2011). Cardiovascular disease. In World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/
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