DP - Non-communicable Diseases (Lesson)

Non- Communicable Diseases 

 Welcome to, “Non-communicable Diseases.” 

We will be looking at cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, and stroke. These three areas of non-communicable diseases is represented on our top ten causes of death presented earlier in the module. This will give you information to recognize symptoms and see some ways to lower the risks of these diseases. 

Heart Diseases

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Cholesterol 

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Strokes

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CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Cardiovascular Disease: "cardio" means heart muscle and "vascular" means vessels (arteries & veins). Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the United States. Our unhealthy diets, tobacco use (and stimulant drug use such as cocaine), and sedentary lifestyles are leading many people into early graves. The risk factors for CVD can be broken down into controllable and uncontrollable ones. Controllable CVD Factors Tobacco Use, Lack of Exercise, Unhealthy Diet and Eating Habits, Stimulant Drug Use, & Lifestyle Choices. Uncontrollable CVD Factors Gender, Age, Heredity, & Race So it's easy to see that there's more we can do to prevent CVD than there is we can't do! Females have a lesser risk of developing CVD compared to males until they reach menopause and then their risk is the same as males; this is because estrogen acts as a protector against the risk factors for CVD.

 

 

HEART FACTS What is CVD? Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States today. Are you at risk? Blood Pressure - 120/80 is generally considered "good" blood pressure. -The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure and is the amount of pressure in the arteries immediately after your heart has contracted. - The bottom number is known as the diastolic blood pressure and is the amount of pressure in your arteries between heart contractions (beats). - An individual should be more concerned with their diastolic blood pressure reading since it is essentially measures how hard their heart is working when it is "at rest." Cholesterol Total Blood Cholesterol - Desirable is less than 200 mg/dl. Borderline is between 200-239 mg/dl. High is considered anything over 240mg/dl HDL Cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins) is considered "good" cholesterol because its role is to break down arterial plaque build-up. The higher your HDL, the better. How can you increase your HDL levels? The best strategy is exercising aerobically. Desirable is 60 mg/dl or above. Less than 35 mg/dl is considered low and dangerous. LDL Cholesterol (low-density Lipoproteins) is considered "bad" cholesterol because it is directly related to atherosclerosis The lower your LDL cholesterol, the better. You can decrease your LDL levels by eating a high-fiber diet, limiting fat in your diet, not smoking, exercising, and more. Less than 130 mg/dl is desirable. 130-159 mg/dl is borderline high. 160 mg/dl or more is high. CHOLESTEROL Cholesterol begins accumulating in your arteries at around the age of 2. How do your arteries look now? What is cholesterol and what does it have to do with heart disease? Cholesterol is a fat-like substance produced in the liver of all animals and, therefore, found only in foods of animal origin. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body, that your body needs to function normally. It is present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. It takes only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. However, if you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, it can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the walls of the arteries in many parts of the body, including the coronary arteries which feed the heart. In time, narrowing of the coronary arteries by atherosclerosis can produce the signs and symptoms of heart disease, including angina and heart attack. Should teens and adults have similar cholesterol levels? No, an adult's cholesterol is usually higher because he/she has had more time for cholesterol to accumulate in his/her arteries versus a teen's.

STROKE Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke is defined as a sudden death to a portion of the brain cells due to lack of oxygen. The stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is damaged resulting in abnormal function of the brain. It is caused by a blockage or rupture of an artery. Stroke factors - Several factors increase your risk of stroke. The more risks factors you have, the greater your chance of having a stroke. Some of these you can't control, such as age, your family health history, race and gender. But you can modify, treat, or control most risk factors to lower your risk. Uncontrollable Stroke Risks - Increasing Age, Male Gender, Race, Family History of Stroke. Controllable Risks with Medical Treatment and Lifestyle Changes - High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cigarette Smoking, TIA (Aspirin), High Blood Cholesterol, Obesity, and Heart Disease. Did you know that 80% of strokes can be prevented?

STROKE SYMPTOMS & MORE Symptoms If you believe you are someone you know is experiencing any of these signs do not hesitate to call 911 for immediate treatment! Suddenly feeling weak in an arm, hand, or leg. Cannot feel one side of your face or body. Suddenly cannot see out of one eye. Suddenly have a hard time walking. Cannot understand what someone is saying. Feeling dizzy/losing balance. Having the worst headache you have ever had. How to Recognize a Stroke If you think someone is having a stroke, remember the 60 second test: Ask the individual to smile. Ask the person to raise both arms. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "it is sunny out today!" Effects of a Stroke Motor impairment and loss of sensation often on one side of the body. Difficulty with speech. Limited vision fields and trouble with visual perception. Loss of emotional control and changes in mood. Cognitive deficits. Problems with memory. Problems with judgement. Problems with problem solving. Or a combination of any of the previous symptoms. Reduce Your Risk of Stroke Annual physicals, healthy diet, be aware of your family history, maintain a healthy weight for your body type, quit smoking and get regular blood pressure & cholesterol checks, and exercise. If diabetic, manage sugar levels. Take medications accordingly.

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