PLEASE RESPOND TO EACH STUDENTS DICUSSION POST. MINIMUM WORDS COUNT IS 100.

PLEASE RESPOND TO EACH STUDENTS DICUSSION POST. MINIMUM WORDS COUNT IS 100. PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU ARE REPLYING TO.

Amelia Lopez Ibrahim 

Discussion 1 Week 2

COLLAPSE

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Cardiovascular disease is a term utilized to describe various conditions that affect the structure and function of the heart. Some forms of cardiovascular disease include arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, coronary artery disease (CAD), deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), pericardial disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), rheumatic heart disease, stroke, vascular disease to name a few. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and can have various causes (Steinbaum, 2019).  

According to the CDC, existing health conditions, lifestyle, age, and family history play a factor in associated risks for heart disease. Key risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. High blood pressure (hypertension), termed “silent killer” often has no associated symptoms and can only be diagnosed by measuring blood pressure. Hypertension can be controlled or lowered by lifestyle changes or medications to reduce the risk of heart disease or heart attack. High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), another key risk factor of cardiovascular disease, oftentimes has no symptoms associated either. The only way to diagnose hyperlipidemia is through lab work (“lipid panel”) used to measure cholesterol levels. Behaviors, such as smoking, also increase the risk of heart disease by damaging the heart and blood vessels. Nicotine raises blood pressure, and carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen blood can carry throughout the body, (2019). 

The population most at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association, are African Americans who are at 34% higher risk than the overall population in the United States. In an article published in The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, it is mentioned that people who have a lower socioeconomic status are also more at risk due to increased stress-related problems as well as diets high in saturated fats, cholesterol, and carbohydrates, (2014). Due to lack of access or affordability of healthier food options or insurance, community-based education on the effects of behaviors that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as smoking, drinking, or obesity, would be a starting point on primary prevention methods for cardiovascular disease. Perhaps classes on gardening or the implementation of community gardens to make healthy foods more available/affordable to these communities might also be an alternative to prevent cardiovascular disease. 

Know Your Risk for Heart Disease. (2019, December 09). Retrieved from  https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/risk_factors.htm

Steinbaum, S. R. (2019, October 14). Cardiovascular (Heart) Diseases: Types and Treatments. Retrieved from  https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/diseases-cardiovascular#1

Who Is Affected by Cardiovascular Disease? (2014, November 04). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from  http://www.secondscount.org/treatments/treatments-detail-2/who-is-affected-by-cardiovascular-disease

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Corey Nutini 

Week 2 Discussion 2

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1.      Tuberculosis is seen in much higher levels in developing countries versus developed countries.  Why is this occurring and which risk factors have the greatest impact on this occurrence?

Tuberculosis, while it is seen throughout the world, is routinely seen in under developed countries that do not have readily accessible resources to prevent or treat active cases (Harris, pg. 679, 2012; Narasimhan, Wood, MacIntyre & Mathai, 2013).  One of the many reasons this occurs is because these regions are typically overpopulated.  Because tuberculosis is mainly spread by airborne contact with positive individuals, living in regions with high prevalence rates and large populations increases the risks of individuals contracting the virus.  When overpopulation is coupled with poor access to affordable healthcare, the rate of infection is likely to skyrocket as treatment options are either hard to come by or not affordable (Harris, pg. 676, 2012).   Another risk factor that greatly affects an individuals risk of contracting tuberculosis is preexisting conditions such as HIV.  Infections like HIV attack the immune system leaving positive individuals immunocompromised.  In fact, HIV positive individuals are at a significantly heightened risk for infection than individuals who do not have HIV, second only to pregnant women who are also HIV positive (Harris,  Pregnant women with a HIV positive diagnosis were found to be 10 times more likely to develop HIV.  This increased susceptibility was not only found in underdeveloped countries, but also by a study performed on pregnant, HIV positive patients in New York (Harris, pg. 680 - 681, 2012).  Low socioeconomic status is also a risk factor attributed to higher rates of tuberculosis because the population typically has exposure to poor life situations such as air pollution, malnutrition, and crowded living quarters (Narasimhan, Wood, MacIntyre & Mathai, 2013).  While these are still the risk factors for tuberculosis regardless of its location throughout the world, these factors are more commonly seen in underdeveloped countries than in developed countries such as the United States. 

2.      Discuss global strategies for the prevention, control and treatment of tuberculosis?

The best options for prevention, control and treatment of tuberculosis is to implement reliable resources for screening individuals.  Due to the high exposure rates to healthcare individuals, employers offer, and usually require, healthcare workers to receive a Mantoux skin tests annually to check for exposure (Harris, pg. 682, 2012).  Testing regularly exposed children and healthcare workers is a good place to start for prevention since they have such a high potential for exposing others before being identified as positive if they should develop an active tuberculosis infection (Harris, pg. 682, 2012; Narasimhan, Wood, MacIntyre & Mathai, 2013).  Another issue is that a low cost, reliable, test option needs to be developed to help control and prevent the increased rates of active cases as the areas with the highest prevalence can not afford, or do not have access, to the tests in order to test exposed individuals.  Without having readily available and low cost tests available, monitoring and reducing exposure to tuberculosis for immunocompromised individuals is a vital area to focus on to help reduce cases and control outbreaks (Narasimhan, Wood, MacIntyre & Mathai, 2013).  Making testing and treatment readily available is a major area that could be focused on to help greatly reduce the current prevalence rate of tuberculosis in underdeveloped regions. 

 

References:

Harris, R. E. (2012). Epidemiology of Chronic Disease. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved

from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781449650650/

Narasimhan, P., Wood, J., MacIntyre, C. R., & Mathai, D. (2013). Risk factors for

tuberculosis.  Pulmonary medicine,  2013.

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