Community Health Issue Essay

Community Health Issue

Congestive Heart Failure

This paper explores congestive heart failure (CHF), which is a condition prevalent not only in New York but also in the large American community. Major symptoms include orthopnea, exertional dyspnea, and acute pulmonary edema. The disorder affects the heart by impairing its ability to pump blood as a result of an abnormality of cardiac functions. CHF condition causes the body fluids to build up around the heart and cause it to weaken and lack sufficient energy to pump blood (Azevedo et al.,2014). The two types include systolic and diastolic congestive heart failure. In addition, a patient suffering from high blood pressure or valve conditions stands a greater chance of developing the cardiovascular disease.

According to New York health demographics, it is estimated that at least 1.4 million people undergo either primary or secondary diagnosis of congestive heart failure each year. CHF is also responsible for 3 million physician visits and hospitalizations each year; the rate is higher than for any other form of cardiovascular disease (Azevedo et al.,2014). The CHF incidence is equally common in women and men, although African-Americans are 2 times more likely to develop CHF than Caucasians (Azevedo et al.,2014). In addition, more than 6% of adults aged 60-69 years have CHF. The disease is prevalent because it affects individuals of all ages (children, middle-aged, young adults, and the elderly). Lastly, the disorder contributes to 42,408 deaths a year (Azevedo et al.,2014).

Factors That Contribute to CHF

Congestive heart failure emanates from various conditions that impair or damage the heart muscle, hence affecting blood flow efficiency. In New York, the major contributing factors include obesity, drug abuse, diabetes, and hypertension. Failure to manage these factors causes the heart muscles to weaken hence causing CHF. When the pressure is high, it leads to congestion in the heart chambers hence making it difficult for the heart to coordinate the blood flow processes. Other related external risk factors leading to direct or indirect congestive heart failure in New York City include smoking, alcohol use, failure to engage the body in physical exercise, and unhealthy lifestyle.

Health disparities in New York is also a major contributing factor of CHF. The high rate of inequality in access to quality health care and disparities based on socioeconomic status, race, religion, gender, and ethnicity promotes the incidence and prevalence of CHF (Stoker, 2013). Other factors include culture, attitude, level of education, and health care policies. Health disparities in New York are common among the minorities that include African-Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans. Lack of finances also contributes to the risk of people not accessing quality screening and diagnosis of the possible heart problems. As a result, low-income earners and the minority groups have a higher chance of developing CHF because of their socioeconomic status, eating behavior, and lifestyle (Stoker, 2013). In addition, the health policies put in place do not outline ways of eliminating these health disparities, and hence there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor.

In addition, cultural factors contributing to CHF emanate from people’s living styles, which determine what they eat, beliefs, perception on exercises and so on. Other factors are related to education in that many people are unaware of the possible risks that surround them as a result of unhealthy living (Tissot, da Cruz, & Miyamoto, 2014).

Interventions Put in Place by The Community and State to Address the Health Care Issue.

Both the community and the state have a mutual agenda of reducing the death rate as a result of CHF in New York. The intervention has been in place for a decade and there are several policies which are being enforced to regulate CHF incidence. For example, the restriction of drinking hours is a policy that prevents people from taking alcoholic drinks every time an opportunity emerge. Those who smoke are supposed to use restricted smoking zones which limit them from smoking regularly. Secondly, the cigarette packages come with a strong warning that smoking is dangerous to one’s health. Other than that, there are plenty of programs which are facilitated at the community and state levels that encourage people to monitor their health statuses by constant checking and getting professional medical advice (Stoker, 2013). Lastly, cardiac rehabilitation services offered in New York aim at creating awareness on the risk factors contributed by drug abuse, taking excess alcohol, smoking, inactivity, obesity, taking food with high cholesterol, and unhealthy lifestyle.

Scope and Role of Nursing and Public Health Nursing

The nurses are always at the forefront to support the implementation of the CHF preventive and curative programs initiated by either the state or the community. To reduce the escalating cases of CHF in New York, the nurses play various roles of initiating the appropriate treatment and providing education to patients regarding the CHF preventive measures. The nurses are involved in diagnosis and offering preliminary treatment (Tissot et al., 2014). They also focus on monitoring and scheduling patient follow-ups to minimize the high risks of hospital (re)admission. One of the main program initiated by the state government is to sensitize people to check their health statuses regularly so that proper actions are taken in a timely manner. The nurses also provide education to the patient and create awareness about the benefits of personal health.

Recommendation of Evidence-Based Ways the Scope of the Interventions Could Be Expanded

Nursing care for patients with CHF may be achieved by applying both the conventional and unconventional interventions. The aim is to promote efficiency in service delivery, improve quality care and access, and reduce diagnosis and treatment costs (Tissot et al., 2014). The approaches would minimize the CHF incidence and prevalence rates by employing proper nursing interventions, identification and prevention of risk factor complications, and designing a teaching plan for lifestyle changes.

The cardiologists usually perform a physical examination of the heart. The process is done to detect the rhythm of heartbeat because when the condition is available there is usually irregular heartbeats. The doctors can apply conventional tests such as the use of electrocardiogram. Other types of tests and interventions include cardiac catheterization, stress tests and treatment using drugs such as benazepril and trandolapril.

Conclusion

Congestive heart failure is a risky and life threatening condition. Patients are always advised to take immediate medical actions once they recognize the manifestation of CHF symptoms. The disorder emerges as a result of other conditions such as obesity, drug abuse, diabetes, and hypertension. Other factors that are contributing to a continuous rise of CHF cases relate to health disparities based on the level of education, economic status, culture, health policies, and attitude. The CHF intervention has been achieved both at the community and state levels through educative programs and free or subsidized diagnosis plans.