Essay Cardiovascular Disease - 1698 Words

Imagine what it would be like to have just started your senior year of high school and be involved in softball, basketball, and numerous other activities and organizations, and find out that your dad has to have a quadruple bypass surgery and won’t be able to attend any of your games, which will keep most of your family members from being able to as well because they are trying to take care of him. That was the reality for my best friend, Kathy Jo, last year. Cardiovascular disease does run in their family, so his diagnosis was understandable, but still came as a shock because he was so young and fit. Her dad is fine now and by the end of the year was well enough to go and support her in the last months of her senior year, but in the†¦show more content†¦Women, the elderly, and diabetics sometimes feel more or less pain but often feel more fatigued, weaker, and have trouble catching their breath (Wedro). There are several ways to test for heart disease that range f rom simple to more complex. Upon visiting the doctor he/she may check a person’s heart rate, heartbeat, blood pressure, give them a physical exam, and/or run tests for more accurate results. Heart rate is tested by checking the pulse and the purpose is to test the rhythm and regularity of the heart, whereas listening to the heartbeat with a stethoscope allows the doctor to evaluate the valve function (Bryg). Blood pressure is basically how hard the blood is pumped through the arteries by the heart. It is measured in two parts and is written as a fraction; for example, 120/80 is considered the normal reading. Systolic pressure, which is the pressure when the heart beats and is the higher number in the fraction, is one measurement, and diastolic pressure, the pressure when the heart is relaxed and is the lower number in the fraction, is the other measurement (Donatelle). Other forms of checking for CVD are simply running a few tests. Among the most common tests that doct ors use are electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG),Show MoreRelatedCardiovascular Disease Essay1716 Words   |  7 PagesIn todays world, there is a rise in the US population adopting unhealthy lifestyles that lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD).1, 2 Stroke and coronary heart disease are the two leading health conditions and leading cause of death in established countries. However, these two types of cardiovascular disease have identifiable risk factors that can be modified to reduce the risk of developing CVD.3 Additionally, due to an increase in the prevalence of obesity, primary prevention for CVD is catchingRead MoreThe Occurrence Of Cardiovascular Disease Essay2112 Words   |  9 PagesOccurrence of Cardiovascular Disease Vital signs are an important measurement for a general assessment of a patient’s overall cardiovascular risk. 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