In the modern-day society, a lot of challenges in the provision of healthcare exist due to increased cases of chronic ailments. Embracing sedentary lives and failure to observe proper nutrition have been amongst the main factors leading to the increment of these diseases. Increased expenses on both the private and public health care relate to the rise of chronic diseases. There have been interventions by world organizations, states, and local governments to mitigate the effects of these diseases on the healthcare system. A lot has been done by the federal programs on prevention and control of chronic ailment but without a personal initiative to live a healthy lifestyle, all these efforts will fail to bear fruits.
Heart diseases and cardio-vascular related diseases are among the leading cause of deaths across the US. An estimate of nearly half a million deaths yearly can be related to stroke and coronary artery diseases ( World Health Organization , 2016). In the Woodside community, for instance, heart-related diseases are the main leading cause of death. In a population of about 135,972, maintaining a healthy population has been a great challenge owing to the fact that people have failed to adopt measures that promote healthy living. The risk factors related to heart diseases amongst them are high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. All these factors identified can be curbed only if the population in Woodside takes personal interventions in the adoption of healthy lifestyles. The adoption of a healthy lifestyle may prove quite difficult to many as it requires moving from a comfort zone. A healthy lifestyle is characterized by physical exercises, abstinence from smoking and proper nutrition that would mean avoidance of a favorite meal.
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High cholesterol has been identified as a leading cause of heart diseases. With wrong diets and physical inactivity, the body is prone to the acquirement of low-density lipoproteins which clog the arteries of the heart eventually leading to heart attacks or heart failure due to low oxygen supply. A research made in Woodside and Sunnyside confirmed that most of the population do not take a calorie-managed diet. Seventeen percent of the adults in Woodside consume at least one sugary drink per day. Consumption of sugary drinks is one of the leading courses of type 2 diabetes, weight gain, heart diseases, and cavities. The consumption of fruits and vegetables that have important nutrients which prevent diseases is contrary to the recommended amount of intake
At least one out of five children in grades k through 8 in Woodside is a victim of obesity. Twenty percent of the Woodside adult population is obese. This alarming rate called for federal interventions that recommended at least 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise for children and 150 minutes of physical exercise for adults within a week ( Mozaffarian, Benjamin, Go, Arnett, Blaha, Cushman & Howard, 2016). Physical activity is critical in living a healthy lifestyle because it's not only about getting optimal weight and attainment of the desired physique but it’s also key in cognitive and physical development. Increased energy levels 0 and a maintained healthy weight improves the body image which in turn boosts self-esteem. Healthy eating habits always goes hand in hand with physical exercises in an endeavor to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, most of the people in the community find excuses that become obstacles in physical activity. physical activities are very critical when it comes to keeping the internal organs such as the heart safe ( Mozaffarian, Benjamin, Go, Arnett, Blaha, Cushman & Howard, 2016). Enough exercises reduce blood pressure and improve the oxygen supply to the heart and the rest of the body.
According to the 2018 community health profile, an estimate of about 9% of the adults in the Woodside population have been diagnosed with diabetes and about 23% of the same population are victims of hypertension ( Heindel, Balbus, Birnbaum, Brune-Drisse, Grandjean, Gray & Thompson, 2015). Hypertension commonly referred to as high blood pressure is known to be the leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke. Excess body weight, smoking, and alcohol use are factors that trigger cases of hypertension, however, lifestyle changes such as physical exercise, healthy diet, and reduction of drugs and substance abuse compounded by proper medication can mitigate high blood pressure and decrease health complication risks.
The adult smoking rate in Woodside similar to other parts of New York City (NYC) is relatively high. Smoking affects almost all organs in the body making the body vulnerable to diseases. Smoking affects blood vessels by making them grow narrower through thickening which later affects the heartbeat causing high blood pressure that may lead to eventual heart failure. Clots may also develop due to this and they may, in the end, cause blockage on the blood flow to the brain leading to stokes. With this in mind, interventions have been made and the NYC health care sector has committed itself to ensure a 12% reduction of adult smoking rate by 2020 ( Heindel, Balbus, Birnbaum, Brune-Drisse, Grandjean, Gray & Thompson, 2015). Affordable primary health care is a key factor in the prevention and control of chronic diseases. Health insurance makes healthcare access easier and affordable. However, in Woodside, a significant number of people remain uninsured and therefore go without needed medical care. Interventions are however being put in place to achieve at ninety percent reduction in uninsured people by 2020.
Interventions have been made by NYC by adopting different strategies to motivate its residents in living a healthy lifestyle. A variety of measures were adopted and this included regulations such as the tobacco control program that advocated for smoke -free workplaces was enacted. Taxations were also used as a measure of preventing the use of cigarettes which had the effect of increasing its cost. Marketing strategies were employed by posting tobacco-free adverts. Additionally, nicotine therapy as a replacement for smoking is offered for free to smokers. NYC has also encouraged a healthy lifestyle through policies that have increased accessibility to nutritious foods and a limitation on access to fast foods.
References
Heindel, J. J., Balbus, J., Birnbaum, L., Brune-Drisse, M. N., Grandjean, P., Gray, K., ... & Thompson, C. (2015). Developmental origins of health and disease: integrating environmental influences. Endocrinology , 156 (10), 3416-3421.
Mozaffarian, D., Benjamin, E. J., Go, A. S., Arnett, D. K., Blaha, M. J., Cushman, M., ... & Howard, V. J. (2016). Heart disease and stroke statistics-2016 update a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation , 133 (4), e38-e48.
World Health Organization. (2016). World health statistics 2016: monitoring health for the SDGs sustainable development goals . World Health Organization.
