Heart Disease: The Silent Killer

Obesity is becoming a major problem to many Americans as well as many people around the world. Being the second cause of preventable death in the United States, obesity increases the risk of numerous adverse health problems including breast cancer, heart disease, type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, stroke, and more. Obesity is defined as an excess proportion of total body fat, with a person being considered obese if his or her weight is twenty percent or more above normal body weight. A common way to measure obesity is by calculating the body mass index. An individual is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between twenty five and thirty,

There are two types of hypertension depending on the etiology; primary and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is as a result of idiopathic causes and develops gradually for many years. It is therefore associated with the adults. The most probable causes of primary HTN are poor lifestyle choices like poor diet, stress, obesity and sedentary life styles (Mayoclinic staff, 2014). The other type –secondary hypertension- is caused by underlying known diseases. The most common diseases which cause this type of high blood pressure are associated with the endocrine system (Mayoclinic staff, 2014).

Obesity is when a person has excess body fat. It is calculated by dividing one’s weight by his or her height to get the body mass index (BMI=kg/m^2). This number is also used to screen for health problems that maybe be caused by certain weight categories. A BMI of 25-29.9 is considered to be overweight and over thirty is considered obese. A third of children are overweight (CDC, 2014). Obesity leads to significant physical and mental health consequences. Obese children are at risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, type two diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and hypertension (CDC, 2014).

Cardiovascular disease has reportedly been the number one disease killer for men and women in the United States of America. Every one out of four deaths is caused by heart disease in the United States alone (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention). Heart disease refers to the different types of conditions and symptoms that can affect the one’s heart and its functions to the body (Mayo Clinic). Cardiovascular/Heart disease has many causes and conditions, prevention methods and symptoms, and treatment options.

Heart disease affects people all around the world. Many life habits can lead you to potentially having a heart disease, but it can also be inherited. About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women. These case studies show that heart problems can strike you at any moment, even when you’re least expecting it.

Heart diseases also known as cardiovascular diseases are various conditions types that may interfere with the function of the heart. These condition types include atherosclerotic also known as coronary artery heart disease which is shown to affect arteries leading to the heart, the heart valve disease which affects the functionality of valves in regulating in and out of the blood flow to the heart. Cardiomyopathy affects the squeezing of the heart muscles. Arrhythmias also called the heart rhythm disturbances affects the electrical conductions. There are also heart infections which are resulted by structural problems of the heart which usually develops before birth. (Wedro)

Heart diseases are the one of major reason for deaths worldwide. Heart disease is often from

Hypertension is characterized as an elevation in blood pressure. A blood pressure reading consistently of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is classified as high blood pressure (Appel & Linas, 2012). Hypertension is classified as two forms and they are Essential hypertension and Secondary hypertension. Essential hypertension mainly develops through lifestyle factors such as diets high in salt or low in potassium, lack of exercise, and obesity (Appel & Linas, 2012). Secondary hypertension

High blood pressure (hypertension ) is defined as high pressure (tension ) in the arteries , which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body . High blood pressure is considered one of the highest causes of morbidity , one of the main leading causes of cardiovascular disease , and social global burden health risk factor . In addition to the high-cost burden to the global health service providers . About 70 million American adults have high blood pressure . Only about half of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control . Nearly 1 of 3 American adults has prehypertension , blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal , but not yet in the high blood pressure range . High blood pressure

Heart Disease is a generic term for heart conditions and there are many of these if you were to look at the British Heart Foundation website; at least 19 are listed. Heart conditions affect the performance of the heart and the main cause of death amongst heart conditions is Coronary Heart Disease, according to the NHS website. This is when the heart muscle receives inadequate blood flow due to an interruption of its blood supply, (Tortora and Dickenson 2011). Coronary Artery Disease is the most common type. The heart is a muscle that requires oxygen and this depends on the supply of blood from the coronary arteries.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a continuing blood pressure reading at or above 140 mmHg systolic and a diastolic reading of 90 mm Hg or higher. Hypertension is divided into two categories primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is the most common and it is simply hypertension that does not have an identified cause. With secondary hypertension, the high blood pressure reading is being caused by some other factor that can normally be identified and controlled such as with sleep apnea (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 712).

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is a sickness that a great many individuals of different varieties are influenced by. In spite of the fact that stress and emotional pressure can incidentally expand pulse; however it would not be considered as hypertension. Hypertension normally is there with no manifestations. It may happen and stay inconspicuous for a long time. Individuals, until told by a therapeutic doctor by large disregard hypertension. Individuals are not mindful of how hypertension influences the body, how it is measured, what the side effects are of hypertension, and what individuals/ethnic gatherings are influenced by hypertension more than an alternate. Late research has uncovered that under diagnosed hypertension influences millions and a huge number of individuals extending from youths to the elderly.

Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems. The meaning of “heart disease” is often used with the meaning “cardiovascular disease.” Cardiovascular disease often refers to conditions that involve narrow or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions such as those that conditions, such as those that affect your heart’s muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease. Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices.

According to WHO (2014), cardiovascular diseases manifests as; coronary heart disease (heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), high blood pressure (hypertension), peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure. These various forms of cardiovascular diseases are intertwined and one could lead to the other. Certain behavioral, environmental and genetic factors have been identified as risk factors of these diseases (WHO, 2014) and for this paper; I will examine and write about some of them.

First, obesity is defined as “ having too much body fat” (“ Medline Plus.” 2015). Obesity is caused by many factors that can include technology, genetics, parents, and lack of exercise. One of the key problems associated with obesity would be the lack of physical activity. You can also determine a person’s obesity level by their BMI. BMI, or body mass index, is calculated by factoring your total weight and height. If the person has a BMI of 30 or over then they are considered to be obese. Also, waist circumference is another way to measure obesity. If the person has a BMI of 30 or over then they are considered to be obese.