Public knowledge of cardiovascular diseases and its risk factors among early adulthood: A review

Abstract

cardiovascular diseases is estimated to be a cause of 17.3 million death in 2008, Over 80% of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries. By 2030 more than 23 million people will die annually from CVDs. The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioural risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. These “intermediate risks factors” can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of developing a heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications. Risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in early adulthood is very high, Clearly, the development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood is influenced by growth very early in life, even prior to birth (Kate Kirley, 2013). Young adult levels of modifiable risk factors predict the odds of developing heart disease in middle age as well as or better than levels of risk factors measured in middle age, (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2007). Various studies have reported that higher measured blood pressure in early adulthood is associated with an elevated risk of total, CVD, and CHD mortality several decades later, which appeared to persist even after accounting for selfreported hypertension in middle age (Linsay, 2011). The present need is to improve the nutritional management and knowledge regarding CVD among adults so that pre-preparation can be made to cope with the risk factors that elevate the diseases. In a study conducted to asses the knowledge on cvd and stroke that results showed that In terms of gender differences, women were consistently reported to have more knowledge of the risk factors and warning signs for CHD and stroke.