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 and is caused by several factors.
Poor The type and amount of food consumed by people.:
- 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.
An activity where people burn tobacco and inhale smoke into their lungs.:
- 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/The body's response to mental or emotional pressure.:
- Stress increases blood pressure which puts a strain on the heart.
- Stress leads to an increase in fatty food intake.
Genetic factors:
- Some people When something is passed onto someone else. a predisposition to developing heart disease from their parents.
- For example, some people may be more likely to have high blood pressure or high A type of lipid (fatty substance)., because of their genes.
Lack of Physical activity that helps to keep the body fit.:
- This can lead to people becoming overweight which puts a strain on the heart.
- It can also raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Effects of heart disease
Heart disease lowers the life expectancy 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 strain 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 in trying to prevent heart disease. Better treatment of the condition has also had an effect on improving the chances 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 diet, giving up smoking, reducing stress levels and taking more exercise.
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 the 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:
- There has been a decrease in 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.
- This helps to reduce When people breathe in the fumes of another persons' cigarette. also.
More advanced treatment:
- more regular check-ups
- 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.