Cardiovascular Disease

This essay provides an overview of cardiovascular disease, including its causes, impact on individuals and society, and nursing care strategies. It also discusses the social determinants of health and the national health priorities for managing this condition.

Running head: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a condition that affect the blood vessels or heart due
to excess accumulation of fatty deposits in the blood carrying arteries that leads to increase
risk of blood clotting and damage of organs such as kidneys, heart and brain. Cardiovascular
disease is considered as the most significant cause of disability and death in Australia thus
affecting a large population with heart diseases (nhs.uk 2019). There are various types of
cardiovascular diseases that affect people of varying age and gender such as coronary artery
disease that includes heart failure, angina and heart attack. Ischaemic attack, strokes,
peripheral arterial and aortic disease is also included in the types of cardiovascular disease
(CVD).
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading cause of death and suffering in
Australia and is also encompassed in the category of national disease burden. In the year
2014-15, approximately 4.2 million of Australian population were suffering from
cardiovascular conditions (Sanchez et al. 2019). In 2016, approximately 17.9 million death
was reported due to cardiovascular disease with 31% of resulting global death. More than
430,000 people reported that they have experienced effect of heart attack once in their life
resulting in 29% of total death solely due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In Australia
every one in three patient die or suffer from cardiovascular diseases with total evaluation of
approximately 124 death every day. Nearly 1,320 people experience hospitalization because
to cardiovascular diseases with 26 % of the population are below 75 years of age (Hojat et al.
2019). The primary effect of cardiovascular disease is not restricted to just health issue but
also effect the social phase of the patient’s life. The patient suffering from cardiovascular
disease can range from a child to an older person of any age and as it is considered as a
chronic disorder it becomes a perpetual part of the patient’s life resulting in unstable health,
social and physical limitations. Men experience chest pain, nausea and shortness of breath
because of cardiovascular disease while women experience nausea, burning sensation on the

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chest, dizziness, chest discomfort and difficulty in breathing. The overall impact of
cardiovascular diseases was affecting the psychological health of the patient thus increasing
the risk of depression and mental distress (Health.gov.au 2019). The overall comfort of the
society is affected due to the increasing risk of different cardiovascular diseases.
National health priority was focused to improve the overall burden of Australia
relating to of cardiovascular disease. The effect of chronic illness or disorder will be analyzed
by using National Strategic Framework, which was established in the year 2017
(Aihw.gov.au 2019). National strategic framework was a policy established for
documentation and records on chronic conditions and to provide supervision on providing a
national health care response for controlling the burden of cardiovascular diseases (Sancho
2019). Hence, this policy delivers regulation on conveying an effective national well-being
system that responds with more efficiency to chronic conditions. The Global action plan
executed by World Health Organization (WHO) was supported by this national strategic
framework policy focusing on prevention and control non-contagious Disease 2013–2020
(who.int 2019). Nine different categories of National Health Priority Areas (NHPAs) were
recognized to improve the care of sufferers towards operative strategy of monitoring the
frequency of chronic diseases.
Social determinants of health are the factors responsible for bad health condition that
is influenced by the external environmental factors concerning the place where a person is
born, work, play, age and live. Hence, understanding the relation between the individual
experience and how it influence the health is important and included under social
determinants of health (Foundation 2019). Social determinants of health includes both
physical and social determinants effecting the health of an individual that includes
accessibility of resources, job, health care facilities, education, training, economical status
and community based assets. Social support and socioeconomic condition is a crucial factor

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responsible for bad health condition of an individual due to cardiovascular diseases. The three
social determinants of health resulting in cardiovascular disease are as follows
(Healthypeople.gov 2019):
 Biological and Human determinant
 Environmental Determinant
 Socio-economic Determinant
 Behavioral Determinant
 Psychological Determinant
Effective nursing strategies and care approach is requisite for treating or handling the
patient with cardiovascular disease and to help the patient to improve or recover quickly. In
nursing care, the nurse will provide an effective care plan with proper intervention to address
the health condition of the patient and to provide an effective treatment approach to improve
the patient condition. Different upstreaming method of nursing care is considered in the
patient suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which includes (Health.gov.au, 2019):
• Early detection and diagnosis
• Promoting and understanding the diagnosis procedure
• Building trust and value with the patient
• Operative and accurate practice of technology for better diagnosis and treatment
• Educating the patient to take up physical activity and mobility
• Maintaining a fit cholesterol level that is appropriate and healthy for the patient
• Educating the patient to quit smoking and follow a healthy diet as a major
intervention

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• Encouraging the patient to take prescribed heart protective medication for better
recovery
• Monitoring the patient regularly for better health condition
Hence, from this essay it can be concluded that large number of Australian population is
suffering from cardiovascular diseases and under the risk of various heart problems. The
effect of cardiovascular diseases has a major impact on the community and the older
population effecting their mental health condition and also influencing their social life.
Various health priorities are established by the Australian community majorly focusing on the
priority of disease burden. The essay also highlights the establishment of national Strategic
Framework that is developed to focus on the prevention and control measures for preventing
the population suffering from chronic conditions. Different social heath determinants (SHD)
are also focused in this essay affecting the overall health of the Australian population. Hence,
the essay concludes by explaining the nursing care strategies required for treating a patient
with more accuracy and efficiency and to also develop a better understanding of the patient’s
health condition.

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References
Aihw.gov.au 2019. Cardiovascular disease snapshot, How many Australians have
cardiovascular disease? - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. [online] Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-
vascular-disease/cardiovascular-health-compendium/contents/how-many-australians-have-
cardiovascular-disease [Accessed 11 Apr. 2019].
Foundation, T. 2019. What are the social determinants of health and why do they matter?.
[online] The Heart Foundation. Available at: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/news/what-
are-the-social-determinants-of-health-and-why-do-they-matter [Accessed 11 Apr. 2019].
Health.gov.au 2019. Department of Health | Cardiovascular disease. [online] Health.gov.au.
Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/chronic-cardio
[Accessed 9 Apr. 2019].
Healthypeople.gov 2019. Social Determinants of Health | Healthy People 2020. [online]
Healthypeople.gov. Available at:
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health
[Accessed 11 Apr. 2019].
Hojat, M., Jahromi, M.K., Koshkaki, S.R. and Rahmanian, M., 2019. Comparison of risk
factors of cardiovascular diseases in male and female nurses. Journal of education and health
promotion, 8.
nhs.uk 2019. Cardiovascular disease. [online] nhs.uk. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/ [Accessed 11 Apr. 2019].
Sanchez, P., Salamonson, Y., Everett, B. and George, A., 2019. Barriers and Predictors
Associated With Accessing Oral Healthcare Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease in
Australia. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.

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Sancho, D., 2019. Inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
who.int 2019. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). [online] World Health Organization.
Available at: https://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/ [Accessed 9 Apr. 2019].