Risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular diseases and that can be modified or addressed in order to prevent the development of severe conditions are the tobacco use, the physical inactivity, and the unhealthy diet that can lead to changes in the levels of cholesterol and obesity (Berry, Dyer, Cai, Garside, & Ning, 2012). These three factors should be discussed in detail in order to identify what aspects can be addressed in order to reduce the probability of the cardiovascular disease’s development as the part of the primary prevention, as well as to improve the patient’s state when the disease has started to develop.
Tobacco use is discussed as one of the risk factors that usually provoke cardiovascular diseases because the nicotine causes the increase in the blood pressure, and blood vessels become damaged. In addition, the level of oxygen in the blood decreases significantly as a result of smoking, and the risk of developing clots in vessels also increases. Similar negative consequences of the tobacco use for the health of the heart and vessels are also associated with second-hand smoking (Moyer, 2012). Physical inactivity is also a cause of cardiovascular diseases since it leads to hypertension and the development of clots in the arteries. When persons are physically inactive during weeks and even months, the blood is oxygenated poorly, and this fact is connected with the additional pressure on the heart (Berry et al., 2012). The other factor that can provoke heart disease is the unhealthy diet. If the person’s diet includes a lot of fats, salt, and sugar, the level of cholesterol contributing to the development of clots increases. Moreover, the high levels of sugar and salt in the food are also associated with the high blood pressure (Estruch, Ros, Salas-Salvado, Covas, & Corella, 2013). Finally, such diet can lead to the obesity that is one of the primary causes of the cardiovascular diseases’ development.
While proposing an educational plan that is associated with the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, it is necessary to formulate steps that address such factor as the unhealthy diet. The patient should be informed that the levels of consumed fats, sugar, and salt should decrease depending on the age. Moreover, the alcohol consumption is also prohibited as it contributes to increasing blood pressure (Estruch et al., 2013). All these aspects need to be reflected in the plan of the healthy lifestyle for the patient.
The complex approach to addressing the risk factor means that the modified diet should be developed according to the patient’s needs. It is important to calculate the daily norm of calories for the patient, depending on his activities, and focus on the consumption of products with the high nutritional value (Estruch et al., 2013). The patient should learn that the consumption of green vegetables, grains, fruits, fish, nuts, and vegetable oils should be increased and compose the basis of the daily ration. On the contrary, the consumption of high-calorie products, fats, and other low-energy products should be avoided.
Thus, the focus is on consuming the increased amount of protein and minerals in order to improve the health status of the whole organism. When the patient is educated regarding the healthy diet habits as part of the health plan, it is possible to expect the decrease in the probability of the cardiovascular disease’s development. Such approaches can be effective in the context of the primary prevention strategy.
References
Berry, J. D., Dyer, A., Cai, X., Garside, D. B., & Ning, H. (2012). Lifetime risks of cardiovascular disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(4), 321-329.
Estruch, R., Ros, E., Salas-Salvado, J., Covas, M. I., & Corella, D. (2013). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(14), 1279-1290.
Moyer, V. A. (2012). Behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthful diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of Internal Medicine, 157(5), 367-372.