Introduction
Evanston, IL, is a city close to Chicago with a population of over 75,000 people. It is a small and quite young city as the median age of the people living there was 34.3 years in 2009 (Eplan 2011-2016, 2011). People are living in favorable conditions with strong communities and lots of recreational areas and have quite active lifestyles. However, irrespective of the median age and favorable living conditions, mortality of the city is almost 1%. It is noteworthy that cardiovascular disorders account for 41% of all deaths in the city (Eplan 2011-2016, 2011). This paper will highlight the necessity to focus on this health problem in the city.
Community
In the city in question, almost 70% of people are adults between 18 and 65 (State, 2014). 12% of people are older than 65 years. The community is diverse in terms of ethnicity though more than half of the population (65%) is white people, 18% are Africans, 9% are Hispanic and 9% are Asians (State, 2014). The average income per capita is higher than in the state though more than 10% of people are below poverty (State, 2014). It is also necessary to add that high school graduates (or those having higher education) constitute 93,9% of those who are over 25 years (State, 2014). As has been mentioned above, the city is characterized by strong communities as people join different societies and groups. People also try to have active lifestyles.
Demographic and Epidemiological Data
The city of Evanston has quite young population as only 12% of people are over 65 years (State, 2014). Mortality in the city is 0.74% and it is estimated that 41% of deaths resulted from cardiovascular disorders (Eplan 2011-2016, 2011). It is noteworthy that the demographic data are quite similar in Evanston and the state. Thus, in Illinois, 12,5% of people are over 65 years (State, 2014). At that, mortality rate is very similar to the one in Evanston (0.79%) and cardiovascular disorders account for 45% of deaths (Eplan 2011-2016, 2011). This data suggest that people in Evanston and the entire state are in risk of developing heart disorders when they get older. It is noteworthy that 22% of all deaths (including 4% of premature (younger than 65) cases) were caused by chronic heart disorders in Evanston (Eplan 2011-2016, 2011).
Windshield Survey
It is necessary to note that the rate of cardiovascular disorders is rather high for a city with such young population. More so, it is clear that people living in the city pay significant attention to their health and they can afford high-quality healthcare services. There are healthcare units which can provide people with all the necessary services. More so, people have active lifestyles and spend significant time doing exercise (walking, jogging, and so on). There are no big industrial areas and plants and environment is very favorable. Nonetheless, cardiovascular disorders are quite common and are often chronic. This suggests that there is certain predisposition in the area.
Problem
Therefore, it is possible to identify a specific problem which has to be addressed in the area. Cardiovascular disorders have to become a focus of prevention programs and clinical services. Notably, this is one of the objectives of Health People 2020. The objective which can help improve the situation in the area goes under the number HDS-1, Heart Disease and Stroke – “Increase overall cardiovascular health in the US population” (Heart Disease and Stroke, 2014). The problem is the most serious for the area as 41% of all deaths are caused by cardiovascular disorder. Clearly, people are willing to improve their quality of life as they are active. However, the number of deaths and afflicted people suggest that there is not enough clinical services provided.
Oikonomou et al. (2011) highlight a number of therapeutic approaches that can have a positive impact on people suffering from cardiovascular disorders. These methods are effective as patients report about improvement of their health. Admittedly, further research in this field is necessary as it is crucial to develop the necessary medication to avoid surgery. When surgery is inevitable, it is essential to improve psychological state of patients before and after the surgery (Ai, Seymour, Kronfol and Bolling, 2011). Ai et al. (2011) note that positive attitude significantly affects the outcomes of the surgery and patients’ rehabilitation.
Summary
On balance, it is possible to note that cardiovascular disorders have to be a focus of healthcare professionals as this health problem accounts for 41% of deaths in Evanston. There are no environmental or social factors contributing to development of the disease, but there is an apparent predisposition among the population of the city. It is necessary to address this issue as the number of premature deaths is over 20%. The population of the city is quite young but there are still risks that the number of premature deaths can increase. It is important to pay special attention to prevention programs, development of pharmaceutical tools and psychological assistance to those who face the issue.
Reference List
Ai, A.L., Seymour, E.M., Kronfol, Z., & Bolling, S.F. (2011). Mood states, coping factors, and interleukin-6 are related to psychiatric symptoms following cardiac surgery. Biological Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, 13(1), 3-9. Web.
Eplan 2011-2016. (2011). Web.
Heart Disease and Stroke. (2014). Web.
Oikonomou, E., Tousoulis, D., Siasos, G., Zaromitidou, M., Papavassiliou, A.G., Stefanadis, C. (2011). The role of inflammation in heart failure: New therapeutic approaches. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, 52(1), 30-40. Web.
State and county quickfacts. (2014). Web.