Paper Sample on A Holistic Approach to CVD Prevention and Control

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of disease burden in the world today. CVD, if not treated in time, leads to coronary heart disease. This paper aims to understand the differences between the primary, secondary and tertiary approaches of CVD prevention and control. This paper analyses the strengths and weaknesses of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and control methods of cardiovascular.

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Primary Prevention

The first primary prevention intervention is administration or intake of Mediterranean diet alongside nuts and olive oils. According to a study by Estruch et al. (2013), the intake of Mediterranean diet supplements with olive oil and nuts reduces the risk of contracting major CVD. The weakness of this method is that people can still contract minor cases of CVD. The second primary prevention method is physical activity. Activities such as working, riding, exercise, or any movement reduces the risk of developing CVD. This method is a strength since most people can move around in whichever form. Monitoring of cholesterol levels and blood pressure are other primary preventive measures that reduce the risk of CVD. Sanmuganathan et al. (2001) state that taking aspirin reduces the chances of contracting CVD by 15%. The weakness of this measure is that there is a high chance of developing the disease for highly vulnerable people. Consumption of healthy balanced diet aid in balancing cholesterol levels and blood pressure, thus significantly reducing the chances of developing CVD.

Control Method

The first secondary control method is physical activities. This applies to control the disease or prevent its reoccurrence. Physical activities such as movements are associated with slowing down the progress of CVD in patients. A strength in this measure is that it manages the disease and prevents its recurrence, but its weakness is that movement alone cannot be relied on for the complete recovery of the disease (Alves et al., 2016). Another secondary intervention is stopping to smoke. People who already have CVD or who have suffered from the disease can stop smoking to reduce the chances of progression or recurrence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several primary and secondary interventions for the prevention and control of CVD, but there are no known tertiary measures. Primary methods of prevention include intake of the Mediterranean diet with olive oil and nuts, monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol level, and taking aspirin among others. Secondary measures include physical activities and the stoppage of smoking.

References

Alves, A. J., Viana, J. L., Cavalcante, S. L., Oliveira, N. L., Duarte, J. A., & Mota, J. (n.d.). Physical activity in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Overview updated.

Estruch, R., Ros, E., Salas-Salvadó, J., Covas, M., & Corella, D. (2013). Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet.

Sanmuganathan, P. S., Ghahramani, P., Jackson, P. R., Wallis, E. J., & Ramsay, L. E. (2001). Aspirin for primary prevention of coronary heart disease: safety and absolute benefit related to coronary risk derived from a meta-analysis of randomized trials.