Case Study Coronary Heart Disease

I. Public Health Problem
Coronary heart disease is a chronic disease in which plaque, fatty deposits, builds up inside the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. The build up of plaque is called atherosclerosis and can develop for many years undetected. Some common symptoms of coronary heart disease are chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue with exertion, in turn increasing the risk of other health issues such as angina pectoris and eventually heart attacks. Today, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States (“Who is at Risk for Coronary Heart Disease”, n.d.). The etiological risk factors for coronary heart disease include smoking, high levels of low-density proteins
An average college student’s diet can consist of little to no nutritional value (Reilly, Burke, & Morrell, 2006). The amount of sodium, cholesterol, and sugar an average college student may consume, while also under added amounts of stress and physical inactivity, could increase the risk for coronary heart disease in the long-run, eventually leading to the rupture of an artery thus causing a heart attack. However, these risks could be minimized as well as prevented if the correct measures are
Most of the prevention of coronary heart disease comes from a person’s own motivation and will to develop better lifestyle habits towards a healthier life. In addition, there are still other risk factors that are uncontrollable such as age, gender, and family history. A person who has a healthy diet, exercises regularly, takes time to relax, and does not smoke or drink can still be at risk for coronary heart disease if it’s in the person’s family history. Coronary heart disease is linked to not only lifestyle but heredity, therefore expecting permanent prevention of coronary heart disease in the future is far from realistic. If public knowledge of coronary heart disease expands and people start monitoring their health better, however, the rate of coronary heart disease in the U.S. could be reduced