The Role of the
Family in Preventing the Onset of Cardiovascular Disease among At-risk Members
Underlying Question
How can family
members help prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases among at-risk members?
Introduction
Cardiovascular technology is the use imaging technology to
help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel)
ailments in patients. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians are among
the first contacts of potential cardiovascular patients in cardiovascular
clinics and laboratories. An understanding of the cardiovascular system and
familiarity with cardiovascular diseases are necessary for a cardiovascular
technologist or technician to do his or her job of assisting physicians
diagnosing illnesses related to the cardiovascular system. As part of the
health care team, the knowledge of the risk factors and prevention of
cardiovascular diseases would help cardiovascular technologists deal with patients and their families with empathy.
Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as acute
coronary syndrome (ACS) and coronary artery diseases (CAD) are classified as modifiable and
un-modifiable. The un-modifiable risk factors to cardiovascular diseases are age, sex, heredity and family history.
The modifiable risk factors are mainly
due to unhealthy lifestyles that involve smoking, obesity and lack of exercises.
Using the functionalist perspective theories, the paper will
look into three of the key functions of
family namely:1) socialization; 2)
economic and psychological support; and 3) social status. The two key functions of functionalist
perspective theories will be used to explore the role of the family and how
effective it is to reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases to at-risk
family members. Conflict perspective theories will be employed as a secondary
framework in looking at how modifiable risk factors contribute to the
progression of cardiovascular diseases.
The paper attempts to enumerate forces that could reinforce
or restrain family members from helping at-risk family members prevent the
onset of cardiovascular diseases.
Situations and examples presented are insights based on my own family of
orientation.
Background
The Center for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute
of Health’s (NIH) Medline Plus, Healthy People.gov
among other government entities have
been focusing on issues related to the prevention and treatment of
cardiovascular diseases. Mr. Byron
Marshall, a cardiovascular technologist and registered nurse who happens to be
my instructor at the Health Occupations Division of Grossmont College has
emphasized to my class the magnitude problem of cardiovascular diseases on
PowerPoint presentation in blaring statements:
1.
Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) are responsible for 1 in 5
deaths in the United States
2.
There are 1.2 million ACS cases each year
3.
Of the 1.2 million ACS cases, 40% would likely
die
4.
In 2010, the treatment of ACS among other
related cardiovascular diseases amounted to
more than $500 billion dollars!
With an optimistic note, the Healthy People.gov who provides a scientific based 10 year national objectives for improving the health
of all Americans, hopes to improve cardiovascular health and quality of life of
at-risk individuals through prevention, detection and treatment. Given the magnitude and the alarming cost of
the problem, it is a known fact that cardiovascular diseases like ACS or stroke
are highly preventable because of the modifiable risks factors. According to the HealthPeople.gov, the leading
modifiable risk factors in the onset of cardiovascular diseases are:
1.
High blood pressure
2.
High cholesterol
3.
Cigarette smoking
4.
Diabetes
5.
Poor diet and physical inactivity , and
6.
Overweight and Obesity
Viewing the Modifiable Risk Factors of Cardiovascular
Diseases in the context of Conflict Perspective Theories
The conflict perspective theory tells much about the
etiology of cardiovascular diseases. Etiology, which is the manner of causation
of a disease, includes not just the
clinical aspect of the disorder but
also the psychosocial factors that
contribute to the progression of a disease. Conflict theory which claims that
society is in a state of perpetual conflict and competition for limited
resources may also be true with a working class family trying to live a healthy
life.
Chronic job stressors along with a poor diet contribute to
the prevalence of high blood pressure. A poor diet which is an easy option for
a working family who has no time to prepare healthy meals is laden with salt. A
fast easy inexpensive meal comes with the least expensive meat parts which
contains the most animal fat that are the sources of cholesterol. Because of
the competition between fast food operators, a family is made to believe that
they are making bargains with low cost food in super sizes. Overweight and
obesity ensue and progress into atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in a
coronary artery that could later lead to ACS or stroke.
I am including job stressors and relationship breakdown as
additional risk factors in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases. Such
factors that may lead to family dysfunction and mostly contextualized in the
conflict perspective theory will be taken into consideration in exploring the
role of the family in helping prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases.
Using the Functionalist Perspective Theorist to Enumerate
the Role of the Family in Preventing the Onset of Cardiovascular Diseases to
At-risk Family Members
Except for sexual regulation, the three other function of
family are the more accurate indicators for exploring and enumerating the roles
of the family in preventing the onset of cardiovascular diseases to at-risk
family members. Without ruling out
family dysfunction which has become prevalent in every society, I am including
conflict resolution and mediation as an added function to the role of a family
in helping an at-risk member.
Job stressors, relationship breakdown such estrangement and
divorce, smoking and other forms of addiction are also major modifiable risk
factors to cardiovascular disease. These and such other factors that may lead
to family dysfunction as contextualized in conflict perspective theories are
being taken into consideration in exploring the role of the family in helping
prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases to at-risk members.
The non-modifiable risk factors to cardiovascular diseases
which include age, sex and heredity are basically family-oriented.
Cardiovascular diseases run in families. It is for this reason that the family
history is always considered in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases.
Socialization
In my family of orientation, the concept of socialization is
focused on how a child copes up in school and relates with peers. There is less intimacy for families meant to
be larger so there could be more help for production in the farm. The unhealthy lifestyle brought about social
patterns learned in school and the workplace of the member at-risk for
cardiovascular disease should first be assessed. One of this unhealthy lifestyle
learned from socialization is cigarette smoking.
Social Status
The position of a family in a community is the eventual
result of its other functions such as socialization and economic and
psychological support. My father who was known to provide well for the basic
needs of his family and my mother who had complemented my father's role as
a provider earned the good reputation
for providing well for their family.
Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Because of individual differences and opinions, conflicts
arise within families. There are sibling rivalries and petty quarrels among
family members. During crisis situations,
some leadership as well as dissent arise. Some conflicts resolve itself
by cooperation or consensus. Other times, families get divided upon an issue.
There are times that mediation from parents are necessary to resolve the
conflicts among family members such as brothers and sisters. In the case of
parents fighting with each other, the most influential grown-up children with
the approval of other siblings can also mediate and resolve conflicts between
parents.
Conclusion
By recognizing the interplay of modifiable risk factors and
key family functions contribute to the etiology of cardiovascular diseases, the
family can prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases to at-risk family
members. Cardiovascular diseases which
may be inherent to at-risk family members due to age, sex predisposition and hereditary
factor such as genes are most vulnerable to aging parents. The family members most likely to take care
of aging parents are identified by their social status and their capability to
provide economic and psychological support to the needs of the aging parents. Their
ability to resolved conflicts that arise among other family members regarding the
care of the at-risk members or aging parents is also crucial so as not result to further stress and
conflicts.
Bibliography:
Hammond, Ron, “Introduction to Sociology”, Family,
Smashwords Edition , Copyright 2010
Huffman, Karen, “Psychology in Action”, Stress and Health
Psychology , Tenth Edition, Copyright 2012, page 106-108
Marshall, Byron, “Acute Coronary Syndromes” , a PowerPoint
Presentation to CVT 104/105 Health Occupations Division, Grossmont College, September
2013
“Healthy People 2020” Heart Diseases and Stroke, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview
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