Cardiovascular Diseases: The Leading Cause Of Death Worldwide

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The leading cause of death worldwide are cardiovascular diseases (CVD’s) mainly in the form of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke (U.S preventive service, 2014). CVD’s are also recognized as the leading cause of disability in the world (World Health Organization, 2011). The world population continue to see a rise in CVD’s even though a large proportion of CVD’s can be prevented by following the appropriate and recommended measures (WHO, 2011). The related factors and intermediate risk-factors that have attributed to the increase in prevalence of CVD’s are related to tobacco use, unhealthy dietary changes, lack of physical activities, hyperlipidemia, and high blood pressure which all reflects lifestyle behavioral factors …show more content…
Primary prevention is geared towards health promotion and prevention against specific health problems that is generally applicable to healthy individuals or groups (Kozier et al., 2014). As an example, teaching individuals about the effects of minimal or lack of exercise on the heart, poor diet and cigarette smoke overtime can increase the blood lipid level and insulin resistance which precipitates CVD’s (Jones-Parker, 2012). The intention at this level is to prevent chronic diseases from occurring by addressing the risk-factors that contributes to chronic diseases such as CVD’s (Jones-Parker, 2012). As part of a good and effective clinical practice, it is important for nurses to educate their patients, and support choices that promotes healthy lifestyle (Jones-Parker, 2012). Canada guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases as recommended by the heart and stroke foundation emphasizes more on physical activity (Kozier et al., 2014). “An adequate moderate-intensity exercise (40% to 60%) of maximum capacity, such as walking 1.6km in 15 to 20 minutes increases the heart rate, the strength of the cardiac muscle contraction, and the blood supply to the heart and muscles through increased cardiac output” (Kozier at al., p. 1150, 2014). Another benefits of exercise is that it promotes heart health by mitigating the harmful effects of stress (Kozier et al,