Heart Disease in Georgia

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Heart Disease in Georgia

Heart diseases, popularly known as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are a leading cause of death globally. According to Wekesah et al. (2018), ischaemic heart disease and stroke resulted in 31.7 percent of all global deaths in 2016. Ruan et al. (2018) predict that by 2030, 22.2 million people will die from CVDs yearly. These statistics indicate an alarming issue with this health menace that calls for immediate attention. CVDs are not only common in growing economies but also in developed ones. Roth et al. (2018) claim that in 2016 CVD was the leading cause of death, accounting for more than 900,000 deaths.

This is the case with Georgia, where CVD is the leading cause of death. Georgia.gov (2022) reports that this disease accounts for more than 22,000 deaths annually, most of which are premature and preventable. With such available statistics, this paper evaluates epidemiological and demographic data on mortality/morbidity and the risk factors of this disease in Georgia. The paper also presents the Healthy People 2030 view of CVDs, health promotion, and prevention of CVD as well as the primary intervention measures for this disease.

Cardiovascular disease in Georgia has risen to the top of the bar as a principal cause of death. According to Georgia.gov (2022), avoidable and manageable chronic diseases cost more than $40 billion annually in Georgia, resulting in disability and death that can be prevented. Georgia ranks number 39 in the USA for health outcomes for non-communicable diseases. In Georgia, most people are exposed to at least one of these risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, stroke, congestive heart failure, high LDL cholesterol, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.

Precisely, adult smokers in Georgia are 17.5%, adults obese are 65.3%, adults with stroke are 3.6%, and adults with heart attack are 4% (American Heart Association, n.d.). These numbers are different and higher from the United States of America. For instance, the overall number of adult smokers in the US is 17.1%, while obese and stroke adults stand at 66.6% and 3%, respectively (American Heart Association, n.d.). This indicates that CVD is an impending healthcare peril in Georgia that should be attended immediately. Thus, an unhealthy lifestyle is a leading cause of increased CVD among Georgians, which, once addressed, can aid in preventing these diseases and result in better health outcomes across the state.

Heart Disease in Georgia

Heart diseases are preventable by addressing the risk factors, such as reducing cholesterol and blood pressure levels. One way of preventing heart disease is by maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. Rippe (2019) claims that one should consume a low-fat, high-fiber diet containing fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Food saturated with fat, such as sausages, cream, meat pies, and butter, should be avoided since they contain high levels of bad cholesterol. Nevertheless, balanced diets should contain unsaturated fats such as avocados, sunflower oil, and oily fish since they have good cholesterol levels and aid in reducing artery blockage.

Another preventative measure for CVD is being physically active. Blending a healthy diet with regular exercise is an ideal way of sustaining a healthy weight, which lessens the chances of developing high blood pressure. Regular activities facilitate blood circulation, maintain healthy blood pressure, and lowers cholesterol levels. Another way of controlling and preventing heart disease is by quitting smoking, which reduces the risk of developing congenital heart defects (CHDs). Smoking is a primary risk factor for developing atherosclerosis, which causes coronary thrombosis in people aged 50 years and below (Rippe, 2019). Reducing alcohol consumption is another effective strategy for preventing heart disease. Excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of developing a heart attack.

Primary intervention methods for addressing heart disease aim to aid people with cardiovascular risks. Unlike secondary interventions, primary ones aim at controlling risk factors, such as adjusting one’s lifestyle, such as engaging in physical exercise, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption (Stewart et al., 2020). As mentioned earlier, an effective combination of these strategies will aid a person already at risk of developing heart disease to lower their risk of developing stroke, high blood pressure, heart attack, and bad cholesterol in the blood.

Conclusion

Heart disease is a common and leading cause of death in the US, especially in Georgia. The disease’s demographic and epistemological data in Georgia are higher than that of the US, indicating the seriousness of this healthcare issue in this state. Healthy People 2030 recognizes this health menace and aims to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke to enhance cardiovascular health. This organization pursues this objective by reducing cardiovascular diseases risk factors, such as high blood cholesterol and hypertension, through effective treatment. Primary preventable interventions focus on cardiovascular health risk factors by controlling these risks. The effective interventions include maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.

References

American Heart Association. (n.d.). Georgia State fact sheet. https://www.heart.org/-/media/Files/About-Us/Policy-Research/Fact-Sheets/Morbidity-and-Mortality-by-State/Quality-Systems-of-Care-Georgia.pdf

Bayakly, A.R. (2015). Burden of cardiovascular disease in Georgia. Georgia Department of Public Health.

Georgia.gov. (2022). Heart disease. Georgia Department of Public Health. https://dph.georgia.gov/chronic-disease-prevention/heart-disease#:~:text=Cardiovascular%20disease%20(CVD)%20is%20the,1%20in%203%20deaths%20overall.

Healthy.gov. (2023). Heart disease and stroke. Healthy People 2030. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/heart-disease-and-stroke

Rippe, J. M. (2019). Lifestyle strategies for risk factor reduction, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 13(2), 204-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827618812395

Roth, G. A., Johnson, C. O., Abate, K. H., Abd-Allah, F., Ahmed, M., Alam, K., … & Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases Collaboration. (2018). The burden of cardiovascular diseases among US states, 1990-2016. JAMA cardiology, 3(5), 375-389.

Ruan, Y., Guo, Y., Zheng, Y., Huang, Z., Sun, S., Kowal, P., … & Wu, F. (2018). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors among older adults in six low-and middle-income countries: results from SAGE Wave 1. BMC public health, 18(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5653-9

Stewart, J., Addy, K., Campbell, S., & Wilkinson, P. (2020). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: updated review of contemporary guidance and literature. JRSM Cardiovascular Disease, 9, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2048004020949326

Wekesah, F. M., Kyobutungi, C., Grobbee, D. E., & Klipstein-Grobusch, K. (2019). Understanding of and perceptions towards cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors: a qualitative study among residents of urban informal settings in Nairobi. BMJ Open, 9(6), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026852