ssignment 2: Course Project: Health Promotion Proposal

Course Project: Health promotion Literature Review

Name

South University

Background

The health issues of heart disease and stroke affect a majority of many American citizens. Indeed, they are the leading cause of fatalities in the nation, accounting for approximately 17.3 million deaths annually (Roever & Resende, 2015). A sizable number of US citizens lack the proper information and health education on the risk factors and intervention strategies to combat the decisions. Hence, implementing a health promotion framework that provides the necessary education about the risk factors and the preventive strategies can aid in minimizing mortality rates and ensuring that individuals, families, communities and aggregates engage in health promoting behaviors to reduce their susceptibility to heart disease and stroke.

Literature Review

There are numerous theoretical and empirical studies dedicated to analyzing the risk factors and prevention strategies for combating stroke and heart disease. In their study that relied upon evidence from a variety of published studies, Roever & Resende (2015) endeavored to ascertain the risk factors associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, stroke and angina. The researchers identified a number of risk factors associated with these conditions. Some of the most prominent factors included obesity, diabetes mellitus, elevated cholesterol and glucose levels as well as hypertension. In their analysis, the researchers affirmed that most of these risk factors are modifiable through making healthy lifestyle decisions, a sentiment also echoed by Radhakrishnan (2011). Winham & Jones (2011) nevertheless found out that many people especially those from minority groups such as African Americans did not have adequate information on the modifiable risk factors.

Similar to the study by Roever & Resende (2015), Laslett, Alagona, Clark, & Drozda (2012) also identified a number of risk factors in their investigation. Apart from the aforementioned factors, Laslett et al. (2012) found out that aging and urbanization also made people susceptible to developing conditions such as stroke and heart disease. According to the researchers, living in cities made people more vulnerable because of high environmental pollution, threat of violence and high traffic, all of which can hinder people from partaking in physical activity. As Radhakrishnan (2011) reiterates, lack of opportunities for engaging in physical activity can predispose individuals to higher risks of developing obesity, which is a major risk factor for conditions such as heart disease.

From a different dimension, Valtorta, Kanaan, Gilbody, Ronzi, & Hanratty (2016) established that social isolation, loneliness or deficient social relationships could also make people more prone to developing stroke and coronary heart disease. From their narrative review, they found out that poor social relationships increased the risk of heart disease by 29% while stroke risk increased by 32% among individuals who were lonely (Valtorta et al., 2016). The researchers also affirmed that the risk stemming from deficient social relationships was comparable to other well-established risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity in the incidence of stroke and obesity. Subgroup analyses in this study did not indicate any differences by gender.

In light of the detrimental and incapacitating effects that can result from conditions such as stroke and heart disease, scholars have also come up with some preventive strategies for helping to combat the diseases and enable people to lead fulfilling lives. In their inquiry, Laslett et al. (2012) provide a number of therapeutic recommendations that could help individuals to mitigate and manage the risk factors. Some of the major recommendations that they propose include periodic screening of high blood pressure, cholesterol screening for women above 45 years and men above 35 years, obesity screening to maintain ideal BMI and intensive behavioral dietary counseling. Nelson & Doust (2013) also share similar sentiments. However, the researchers go further to recommend that primary prevention efforts should move away from the trend of managing secluded risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension, towards management and assessment of absolute CVD risk.

According to Nelson & Doust (2013), Calculation of the absolute CVD risk, which utilizes the Australian absolute CVD risk calculator, takes into account the probability of a stroke, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack and angina occurring within the next five years. In their recommendation, Nelson & Doust (2013) propose that for patients with high CVD absolute risk, it would be important to consider treating them with a lipid-lowering or BP-lowering agent, unless clinically inappropriate or contraindicated. Even though this intervention strategy is unique to the Australian context, it can nonetheless find useful application in other areas such as the US when refined.

Consistent with previous studies, Radhakrishnan (2011) in a systematic review of randomized controlled trials also provide a number of applicable interventions. The review revealed that tailored interventions had positive effects on some self-management activities including medication adherence, diet control, exercise, screening and self-monitoring among individuals with chronic conditions such as stroke and heart disease. Laslett et al. (2012) similarly found some efficacy in tailored interventions, particularly those related to lifestyle choices. Some of the lifestyle interventions recommended by the researchers include reducing the intake of dietary salts, high-calorie drinks and fat. As the authors found out, the most modifiable risk factor for stroke and heart disease is smoking. Lifestyle interventions for smoking cessation include nicotine replacement therapy and health professional advice. Nelson & Doust (2013) add that medications can also be important components of the smoking cessation interventions.

References

Laslett, L. J., Alagona, P., Clark, B. A., & Drozda, J. P. (2012). The worldwide environment of cardiovascular disease: prevalence, diagnosis, therapy, and policy issues. Journal of the american college of cardiology , 60 (25), S1-S49.

Nelson, M. R., & Doust, J. A. (2013). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: new guidelines, technologies and therapies. The Medical journal of australia , 198 (11), 606-610.

Radhakrishnan, K. (2011). The efficacy of tailored interventions for self-management outcomes of type 2 diabetes, hypertension or heart disease: a systematic review. J Adv Nurs , 68, 496-510.

Roever, L., & Resende, E. (2015). Risk factors for cardiovascular disease: evidence from studies. Journal of cardiovascular diseases & diagnosis , 3 (2), 107-111.

Valtorta, N. K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S., & Hanratty, B. (2016). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart , 1, 1-8.

Winham, D., & Jones, K. (2011). Knowledge of young african american adults about heart disease: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health , 11, 248-253.