Im doing a research paper on the misconception of people believing only older adults are affected by heart disease. I need it to be simple and natural and well detailed and she want the names of the author to be in parentheses. This is my outline
The Misconception That Only Older Adults Are Affected by Heart Disease
Many people believe that older adults are the only victims of heart disease. It is a false and risky assumption. Heart disease can affect anyone; infants, children, adolescents, and young adults can also suffer from it. Heart conditions that exist from birth and damage to the cardiovascular system from poor diet and inactivity begin early in life. Genes may also make individuals more susceptible to heart disease, regardless of age. When heart disease is viewed as a problem of the elderly, younger at-risk people can be undiagnosed and under-treated. Greater awareness could avoid serious consequences or even death.
I chose this subject because both of my parents passed away from heart attacks. My dad passed away at the age of 31 due to poor eating habits. He had fluid around his heart. He swelled up and had a heart attack in his sleep. My mom died at the age of 44 from multiple heart attacks in her sleep without warning. Losing both of my parents at such a young age has shown me that heart disease does not only occur when someone is old.
Heart disease can begin at birth. Robert E, Shaddy, a pediatric cardiologist, wrote about heart disease in infants, children, and adolescents in Moss &Adams. Shaddy discusses congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and cardiovascular disease that develop at an earlier age. Shaddy explains that heart disease does not limit itself to older adults and that some people are born with heart defects. Shaddy states that survival to adulthood for patients with CHD increased from 60% to over 85%, It therefore provides strong evidence against the argument that youth is a protective factor against heart disease.
Genetics can also cause a person to be more susceptible to heart disease. In Cardiovascular Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Practice, Donna K. Arnett and Sanjiv J. Shah explains genetic factors within cardiovascular disease and how people can be at risk from birth. For example, many people carry genetic genes which make them more susceptible to having heart disease. The presence of single-gene diseases can directly affect the heart and multi-gene diseases can directly have an effect on the chances of heart disease occurring. These genetic factors can have no symptoms for decades which is why early detection is important.
Damage to the cardiovascular system from poor diet and lack of physical activity can begin early in life. In Diet and Disease, Katie Ferraro explains the causes of obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure is caused by poor diet and physical inactivity. She states heart disease is the number one killer in Americans, killing about 610,000 a year, and it does not discriminate (Ferraro). These problems can damage the cardiovascular system, and these bad habits begin in childhood and young adulthood. The risk can be prevented. The authors explain that changing eating habits and being more physically active are the best ways to prevent the risk of heart disease.
In conclusion, heart disease is often assumed to only affect older adults, but it can develop at any stage of life. Birth defects, genetics, and lifestyle habits all contribute to the risk of heart disease. Raising awareness, early diagnosis, and living a healthier lifestyle are all ways that can lower the risk of heart disease.
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