Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health

Running head: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
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1SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH – A CASE STUDY
Cardiovascular disease kills one Australian person in every 12 minutes (Abs.gov.au,
2019). According to Abs.gov.au, 2019, cardiovascular disease nearly affects about 4.2
million which is about one in every six persons. Most people at 65 years of age or above are
currently suffering with long-term cardiovascular disease which is reported as the primary
cause of 575,800 hospitalizations and more in year of 2016-17. Cardiovascular disease took
lives of about 43,477 Australians which is approximately about 30% of total deaths occurred
in the year of 2017. Lower social and economic groups that is Aboriginal and also the
population of islanders in Torres Strait along with residents of remote areas has reported the
highest rate of mortality and hospitalization with cardiovascular disease in Australia (Bagheri
et al., 2015). Cardiovascular disease due to ischemia, systemic diseases and congenital
causes can lead to fatigue, restlessness, angina, discomfort during physical activities and even
dyspnea in the subject which can be disastrous to his personal and work life. His state would
affect his family both emotionally and economically.
The Australian National health priority has addressed cardiovascular disease as a
priority since 1996. Cardiovascular health has been considered as the priority test case in
determining Australia’s present and future well-being. Recent years has seen major medical
advancement which has resulted in prevention of heart stroke along through usage of
meticulous approaches. In spite of medical technology, knowledge enhancement,
cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been still the prime causes of numbered mortality with
morbidity rate in Australia. The reasons behind premature deaths caused by affection with
cardiovascular pathologies is very preventable. The rate of cardiovascular disease incidence
are impended by risk factors/ lifestyle diseases like diabetes, variants of cancer but reducing
the risk factors will better health status on interventions focusing on reduction of the
incidences of cardiovascular diseases (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).

2SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH – A CASE STUDY
According to World Health Organization –social gradient, unemployment, early life,
stress, social exclusion, work, social support, addiction, food and transport are the social
determinants of health (Dhhs.tas.gov.au, 2019). Of which ‘unemployment and food intake’ is
discussed here along with healthcare availability and education (from five social determinants
of health). Cardiovascular disease is both a dependent and an effector of social determinants
of health. Social determinant has many components and economic stability which comes
from employment is one of them (Benach et al., 2014). Economic status of a person
determines a person’s food and lifestyle habits. Healthy food and healthy lifestyle with a
mindful profession as opposed to a strenuous labored job can eliminate the risk factors and
stimulants causing cardiovascular disease. Health and healthcare being the other determinant
associated with while people of lower socioeconomic class surviving on malnutrition, non-
availability of food resources and supply like the islander community mentioned above can
deprive body of health and lead to mechanism of cardiovascular disease development.
Substance abuse, alcohol addiction and smoking can lead to hypertension which in turn can
lead to the development of cardiovascular disease (Leone, 2015). Proper healthcare non-
availability in the remote areas is a major drawback in care of subjects of cardiovascular
disease and limited reach to high specialized tertiary care hospitals is cost effective and
hence, keeps people of lower economic class away from the care. This again leads to more
occurrence of cardiovascular disease in the remote areas. Education is also a social
determinant which plays an important role both in achieving economic stability and
prevention of risk factors causing cardiovascular dysfunction. Education imparts knowledge
and knowledge empowers human beings to take control of their lives and work towards
sustenance of a healthy life.
Current dietary and food recommendations to prevent cardiovascular disease advises
and suggests dietary patterns which promote gaining a ‘right’ weight, emphasizing on fruit,