Assignment:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (Heron, 2019). The CDC estimates that 34% of these deaths could be prevented or delayed by a change in health habits (CDC, 2014). The three lifestyle behaviors that have the most influence on heart disease are physical activity, diet, and tobacco use.
1. Do you think that patients with heart disease have adequate access to necessary healthcare resources to maintain a healthy weight and/or stop smoking? Why or why not?
2. Are lifestyle/behavior changes more important than other types of heart disease treatments?
3. Do patients with heart disease have enough guidance when they are told to eat healthier foods and/or exercise more often? If not, how can we better educate/assist these patients to change their health habits?
4. How can we encourage teenagers and adults to prevent heart disease and maintain healthy habits throughout their lifetime?