Heart Disease Research Paper

Heart disease is a major health issue in the United States. It effects all genders, races, and ethnicities. The heart disease epidemic peaked in the mid-1960s. CHD rose from the late 19th century and hit hard in the 20th century. By 1960, it killed one third of Americans. In 1978, it was discovered that there was a 20% decline in heart disease between 1968 and 1978. Many methods since the rise of CHD were used to study CHD and what caused the decline in mortality. Two programs were created, epidemiological surveillance and epidemiological modeling. Both were in place to research weather decreased mortality was the result of prevention or treatment. Comparing the action plan for the Tuberculosis decline, Atherosclerosis Research in Communities, …show more content…
It is the leading cause of death in both men and women and also the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States, that is 1 in every 4 deaths. Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). CHD kills over 370,000 people annually. Smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans have at least one of these risk factors. Lifestyle choices such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use can put people at higher risk for heart disease. These choices lead to obesity and diabetes which effects heart health. Heart disease cost the United States about $207 billion each year. This amount includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost …show more content…
This concern over the decline of progress is called public health catastrophism. CHD had mirrored the trends in infections diseases. Starting with celebration of a decline and then fear of a decrease in decline. This caused a heightened concern for CHD. It was found that the trends in obesity and increased tobacco use are the reasons that the past data cannot predict the future.
The concern over the slowed decline of CHD mortality rates is seen as a blip in the overall trajectory of the dramatic decline in CHD. Researchers issue warnings and demand resources for prevention and treatment. Advocates believe we have the power to control CHD but we need the individual motivation. We need the help of politics to implement needed reforms. We have an attitude that because we have battled and defeated a disease once before, we can do it again as long as we have good resources for researchers and physicians.
While CHD mortality has dramatically declined since it became a health issue, it is not declining like we would hope. Researchers, medical professionals, and epidemiologists continue to search and find a way to prevent and treat heart disease. It is suggested that we focus on select high risk populations – people with obesity or people who smoke – then we may be able to see a higher decline in mortality