Case study in a developed country
Heart disease
Causes of heart disease
Heart disease is the major cause of death in more affluent developed countries. There are a number of causes detailed below.
Poor diet
- Eating too many foods high in Fat that contains only saturated fatty acids. Foods which contain saturated fat include butter, cream and cheese. narrows the Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart..
- Fatty foods cause people to put on weight which increases the strain put on the heart.
Smoking
- The addictive substance found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. - the main ingredient in cigarettes – causes an increase in both The number of heart beats per minute. and The force of blood against the artery walls..
- More oxygen is therefore needed but smoking means that smokers actually get less oxygen.
Lifestyle/stress
- The body's response to mental or emotional pressure. increases blood pressure which puts a strain on the heart.
Genetic factors
- Some people When something is passed onto someone else. a predisposition to developing heart disease from their parents, eg high blood pressure and high A type of lipid (fatty substance)..
Lack of exercise
- This can lead to people becoming overweight which puts a strain on the heart.
- It can also raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Coronary heart disease
Effects of Heart Disease
Heart disease lowers the The average number of years a person is expected to live depending on where they live. of a country as a whole but can also vary between different regions. Glasgow has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the UK and lower life expectancy as a result.
Heart disease can also lead to an inability to work which can put a strain on support services and benefits. Health costs increase as a result and more hospital beds may be required which puts an additional burden on the The National Health Service (NHS) is a free health care system in the UK.. Children can also inherit heart disease from their parents.
Strategies adopted to manage heart disease
Education is the most commonly used method to trying to prevent heart disease. Better treatment of the condition has also had an effect on improving the outlook of people with heart disease.
Charities such as the British Heart Foundation have helped to combat heart disease by funding research into both the causes of the disease and potential new ways to treat it. They also organise and fund campaigns to educate people. These focus on eating a better The type and amount of food consumed by people., giving up An activity where people burn tobacco and inhale smoke into their lungs., reducing stress levels and taking more Physical activity that helps to keep the body fit..
The National Health Service works to prevent heart disease by ensuring people get regular When people are monitored by a doctor or nurse. to detect early signs of heart disease. They also invest in new techniques such as the use of A medical device that uses electrical impulses to regulate heart beats., An operation to replace a damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor., bypasses and replacing faulty heart valves with artificial ones.
Effectiveness of strategies
There is evidence to suggest that in the majority of cases these campaigns are having a positive effect.
People are now eating a better diet and there are more regular check-ups.
- There has been a decrease in the amount of butter and full fat milk consumed.
- People are eating more fruit and vegetables.
Smoking levels have been reduced.
- There is a When people are not permitted to smoke in public places. in public places, such as restaurants and pubs, and on public transport.
- Smoking bans help to reduce When people breathe in the fumes of another persons' cigarette. too.
There are more advanced treatments now available.
- Operations which use blood vessels to bridge-over blocked arteries. surgery
- Drugs
- Better synthetic products such as A small piece of medical equipment that is attached to the heart to replace an existing valve that is blocked..
However, people are still not taking enough exercise and there is no evidence that stress levels are decreasing.