M6 Discussion: Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Heart Health and Disease:  Minimizing the Risk

In a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO, 2014), among the top ten causes of death worldwide, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were the top three.  Heart disease due to hypertension was listed as number 10.  In the US, heart disease is the number one cause of death and stroke is number three.  Heart and lung disease have been the major cause of death for more than a decade and they are the most preventable.

Think about the following questions:

If we know our risk, are we more likely to engage in prevention?
What is the relationship between coronary problems and diabetes?
Is there a link between coronary disease and kidney disease?
What risk factors can we change; what factors are unchangeable?
What are some reasons for the numbers continuing to rise?
For this discussion, you will look at your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Take the risk assessment for the following diseases, at the Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine

                Heart Disease

                Stroke

                Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema

Feel free to do the additional risk assessments.

In your primary post, discuss your risk for each of the diseases and the preventive measures that you would need to reduce your risk. Respond to at least three of your classmates.