The recent health rankings have indicated that Sarasota County has improved among the 67 Florida counties. According to the annual reports on nationwide health outcomes and behaviors, Sarasota has maintained a conducive environment and healthy lifestyles that ensure everyone can access quality healthcare. However, even though Sarasota was voted the best; it still has a lot to do, especially in regard to mental illness and heart failure. The community health improvement partnership (CHIP) has mobilized locals to embrace quality health in their neighborhoods. Heart disease affects people who may look healthy physically. Such people should have regular checkups to maintain their health standards.
Health indicator data in Sarasota County
According to the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), Sarasota County suffers from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke. According to HealthyPeople.gov (2012, p.81), apart from being the leading cause of deaths in the Sarasota County, heart disease and stroke can pose other health risks to the citizens. Such health risks include disability, low quality of life and the spending of hundreds of billions dollars in treating patients (HealthyPeole.gov, 2012).
The main objective is to improve the cardiovascular health of locals. Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through early detection and treatment of risk factors that have often been associated with cardiovascular disease. Effective treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases requires early detection and treatment of heart attacks (HealthyPeole.gov, 2012).
The Sarasota county health department indicates that the main risk factors that have led to the high number of adults suffering from heart disease and stroke are numerous. They include diabetes, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, poor diet and lack of exercise, and overweight and obesity (HealthyPeole.gov, 2012).
Evidence Based Intervention
According to Ruoff (2005), quality improvement initiatives for adults suffering from cardiovascular diseases have led to reduced case of cardiovascular disease. Evidence based practice has demonstrated the importance of using risk reduction regimens. Failure to identify the risks early in secondary preventive care has been found to be contributing to half of the deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases are dangerous when symptoms are not identified early. Ruoff asserts that cardiovascular disease prevention in the outpatient care is necessary in controlling the rise of cardiovascular deaths.
The Sarasota Memorial Healthcare has coordinated with the Patterson Foundation to engage nurses in early detection of cardiovascular disease before they become severe. Persons at risk and modification of risk factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases are crucial in treating heart disease and stroke (Ruoff, 2005).
Alternative therapy
The Newton community health action team (CHAT) has regulated patient education and follow up. Heart disease and stroke can be treated through correct lifestyles. In particular, nurses’ advice adults at risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease; to stop smoking, embrace healthy diet, exercise, intake of less cholesterol foods, and less intake of sodium. Cardiovascular diseases can be referred to as lifestyle disease. The change of lifestyle is a valuable therapy for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease (Majumdar, McAlister, and Furberg, 2004).
However, adults at high risk of being attacked by cardiovascular diseases may not embrace the advice given by the nurses concerning the correct lifestyles to live health lifestyles until the symptoms appear. This a major challenge in treating cardiovascular diseases. Adults in Sarasota County must be informed of healthy lifestyles that reduce the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke (Majumdar, McAlister, and Furberg, 2004).
References
HealthyPeole.gov (2012), Heart Disease and Stroke, Web.
Majumdar SR, McAlister FA, Furberg CD (2004). From knowledge to practice in chronic cardiovascular disease: a long and winding road. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004; 43(10):1738-1742.
Ruoff, G (2005), Evidence Based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Challenges To Assessing Risk In Office Practice. Web.