Heart illness is one of the most significant causes of death in America. Today, one in three individuals, approximated to be 85.6%, have one or more heart conditions (Superko et al., 2017 p. 1309). Therefore, Pahigiannis et al. (2019) explain that the Healthy People 2020 plan focused on enhancing the quality of life and cardiovascular health. This is achieved through the detection, prevention, and treatment of heart diseases to minimize deaths.
As a nurse practitioner, I would emphasize and advise the patient about the essentiality of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a proper diet. It helps keep the blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure normal, reducing the chances of developing a heart attack or disease (Gan et al., 2018). Proper nutrition is achieved through choosing healthy foods and drinks. For instance, I would recommend the patient eat food containing high fiber and low saturated and trans fats to decrease the cholesterol in the body. Additionally, the patient can limit salt levels to lower blood pressure and decrease sugar to decrease blood sugar levels (Superko et al., 2017). Gan et al. (2018) expound that patients should avoid too much alcohol because it increases the possibility of developing blood pressure. For example, I would advise the male sick person not to exceed two drinks a day, whereas women should take one drink daily. Superko et al. (2017) state that it is advisable to go easy on processed and red meat, refined carbohydrates, and sodium. Therefore, proper nutrition plays a crucial role in preventing heart disease.
In summary, heart disease has posed a significant challenge to Americans. It results in a life quality decrease, disability and critical illnesses, and a declining economy due to the billions of dollars invested in the healthcare sector every year to deal with the worrying trend of cardiovascular diseases. However, this chronic illness can be prevented by eating proper nutrition because it normalizes blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar that can cause cardiovascular diseases.
References
Gan, T., Fu, M., Wu, J., Wen, L., & Liu, Q. (2018). How to design carbohydrate diet regimens for heart disease patients. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 25(9), 979-980. Web.
Pahigiannis, K., Thompson-Paul, A. M., Barfield, W., Ochiai, E., Loustalot, F., Shero, S., & Hong, Y. (2019). Progress toward improved cardiovascular health in the United States: Healthy People 2020 heart disease and stroke objectives. Circulation, 139(16), 1957-1973. Web.
Superko, H. R., Zhao, X. Q., Hodis, H. N., & Guyton, J. R. (2017). Niacin and heart disease prevention: Engraving its tombstone is a mistake. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 11(6), 1309-1317. Web.