American Heart Association (briefly AHA) – is an American non-profit organization and voluntary agency founded in 1924. Its area of activity includes sponsoring medical research and creating projects to inform the population about a healthy lifestyle. The association set itself to contribute to the prevention of deaths and diseases arising from cardiological conditions. To combat stroke, the organization has created a separate unit – American Stroke Association (briefly ASA).
In addition to making recommendations for the prevention of heart disease, the organization also conducts fundraising events. In its history, the association has become one of the most famous charitable NGOs. Thanks to its grants, many important discoveries are made and scientists awarded. For example, recently, in 2019, Gregg L. Semenza, who is an M.D., Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University and who received several grants from the association won the Nobel Prize in the field of heart disease control (“History of American,” n.d., para. 26).
Many resources can be used for educational activities for the population. They are provided by organizations that want to help prevent cardiovascular disease. In particular, the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) offers many materials for both professionals and the public on its website. In this work, a few of the most useful and understandable for citizens that do not have specialized knowledge will be discussed.
The fight against cardiovascular diseases and their causes is the main task of the XXI century’s cardiology. The decisive effect on the prediction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality can be not only the introduction into the practice of modern medicine of highly effective technologies, therapeutic methods, and new medication. First of all, risk determination and preventive measures are needed. The sources described are interrelated and complementary for heart disease avoidance.
1st source: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include conditions that increase the likelihood of heart disease in any of its manifestations. These can be lifestyle features, biochemical and physiological parameters. For example, one can stop smoking and eating fatty foods. However, although influenced by behavior, cholesterol and blood sugar levels still need medical tests to control them (“Know your risk for heart disease,” 2019).
2nd source: Prevention of cardiovascular disease involves measures necessary to improve people’s quality and life expectancy by preventing the appearance and development of such pathologies. Their occurrence is not only a medical but also a social problem, and for this reason, so much attention is paid to prevention. The source offers additional references for those who need more details about various aspects of prevention. Furthermore, here is the necessary information on controlling personal medical conditions – blood pressure, a tendency to diabetes, and others. The source will be beneficial for everyone, particularly those who have a history of heart disease in the family.
References
About us. (n.d.). Web.
History of American Heart Association. (n.d.). Web.
Know your risk for heart disease. (2019) Web.
Prevent heart disease. (2020). Web.