High Blood Pressure: A Case Study

I had just gotten back to school from winter break when I got a call from home. My 54 year-old father had been taken to the hospital because he had suffered a heart attack. After my father’s recovery, I realized that my father was just another number. Heart disease is a very serious problem in the United States as it is the leading cause of death for Americans (Class Lecture, 9/14/2015). Diving deeper, it is ultimately upstream factors like socioeconomic status and level of education that lead to heart disease and poor health in general (Class Lecture, 10/5/2015).
Most obviously, those who suffer from heart disease are experiencing factors like high blood pressure. It is no mistake that high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for poor health in the United States (Class Lecture, 9/28/2015). However, this is a downstream factor that is the result of upstream factors. Yes, high blood pressure is a factor, but it is not the root of the problem. Things like lack of exercise were found to increase blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease (Schneider, p.58). So we must take a look at what is really …show more content…
People who don’t get a degree are more likely to earn less money (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), and are much more likely to be engaging in behaviors that influence heart disease. Some behaviors might include eating unhealthy food because it is cheap, being stressed due to financial problems, or working very long hours that do not allow time for regular exercise. My Dad is one of these people. He dropped out of high school and joined the workforce driving a pulp truck for a living. Everyday he packs his lunch with a couple sandwiches and some packaged snacks because Pop-tarts are ultimately much more affordable than fresh fruit. Dad is also constantly stressed about paying the bills and looking after the family. He was the perfect candidate for heart