Review Healthy People 2020 Global Health Initiatives. Choose one disease process and discuss the disease process, the goal of Healthy People 2020, and how the CDC plays a role in meeting the goal.
The disease process I chose to discuss is heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is caused by various risk factors including, smoking, hypertension, high cholestrerol, poor diet, and inactivity. Patients can also be genetically predisposed to heart disease. Healthy people 2020 has set a goal and interventions to help reduce the amount of people affected by this disease and to improve the quality of life of those that are affected. Improve cardiovascular health and quality of life through prevention, detection, and treatment of risk factors for heart attack and stroke; early identification and treatment of heart attacks and strokes; prevention of repeat cardiovascular events; and reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease (Healthy People 2020, 2018). This goal can be met by patients becoming aware of their risk for heart disease. This takes place by having screenings such as labs to check for high cholesterol, smoking cessation counseling, and management of high blood pressure. The CDC supports Healthy People 2020 in reaching their goal. With $165 million for heart disease and stroke programs (including WISEWOMAN) in Fiscal Year 2018, CDC supports all 50 states and the District of Columbia to conduct heart disease and stroke prevention efforts (CDC, 2018). The goal can be met with interventions being implemented not only by patients but healthcare providers. Healthcare providers must use screenings to determine the risk of heart disease. Also important would be educating the patient of the effects of the disease and management of the disease including compliance with medication such as a daily regimen of aspirin if not contraindicated. Heart disease and stroke are big topics in the United states that need awareness and initiatives for meeting goals. In addition to being the first and fifth leading causes of death, heart disease and stroke result in serious illness and disability, decreased quality of life, and hundreds of billions of dollars in economic loss every year (Healthy People 2020, 2018).