Cardiovascular disease essay
Cardiovascular disease is the main public health issue that affects the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The prevalence of the cardiovascular disease among the group has been increasing over the past decade as compared to the non-indigenous population in the nation. According to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases as compared to the non-indigenous population. The chronic disease data in 2012 and 2013 shows that the Aboriginal group adults have high rates of cardiovascular disease at 27% as compared to 21% for non-indigenous population. The rate of cardiovascular disease among the indigenous population increases with age. The younger individuals in the group have lower rates of cardiovascular diseases. The indigenous adults over 50 years of age are highly affected by cardiovascular disease which increases the risk of mortality and reduced productivity. Cardiovascular disease among the indigenous group causes high rates of mortality and hospitalizations (Agostino et al., 2020). The high rates f hospitalization increases the cost of healthcare which exposes those affected to financial problems.
The elderly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over the age of 65 have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease at 60% which has resulted in increased suffering due to the complications caused by the disease (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014). The high rate of cardiovascular disease among the elderly in the group is due to physical inactivity and unhealthy diet.
The aging population is less likely to participate in physical activities such as they have physical limitations. Physical inactivity is one of the risk factors that cause cardiovascular diseases. Unhealthy diet due to lack of awareness on the required diet such as low intake of saturated fats with cholesterol is another risk factor that has influenced the increase in the rate of cardiovascular disease among the indigenous population.
Data on cardiovascular disease in the population in 2012 and 2013 showed that the indigenous population was twice likely to present with cardiovascular disease symptoms as compared to the non-indigenous group (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014). The high rate of cardiovascular disease is associated with smoking behavior which common among the indigenous group. Smoking is one of the risk factors that influence the development of cardiovascular disease due to inflammatory effects targeting the coronary arteries resulting in blockage (Agostino et al., 2020). The indigenous adults are 2.6 times more likely to smoke tobacco products as compared to the non-indigenous adults. The high rates of smoking have a direct correlation with the rate of cardiovascular disease.