Overview
The human body is a sophisticated machinery. There is no other organism quite like it. When the body is compromised, it is usually due to one of four problems: genetics, infection, deficiencies, and/or environmental/metabolic. When patients are ill, they often seek medical attention to address their various ailments.
The first organ to function in the body is the heart. The heart beats between 70-100 beats per minute under normal conditions. The heart is a vital organ because it circulates blood throughout the entire body. When the heart is damaged, due to any one of the problems mentioned above, a person can develop heart disease. In the United States, heart disease is the number one killer but heart disease can be prevented.
Imagine the following patient and discuss how you would counsel the patient to improve their outcome.
Leonard is a 26 year old male who has a family history of heart disease. Leonard or "Leo" for short, is a professional skateboarder and enjoys hanging out with his friends. Leo knows his grandfather died (66 years old at time of death) from heart complications and his uncle (58 yeas old at time of death and on the same side of the family as his grandfather) also died of heart disease. Leo is not worried about his health because he is a professional athlete and is young. Leo enjoys burgers and fried foods, he is heavy drinker and smokes cigarettes on occasions. Leo sleeps 3-4 hours a day and fuels his body with Monster energy drinks. He just broke up with his girlfriend, which has been stressing him out over the past few months. During the break up, he noticed he had shortness of breath, headaches and blurry vision. He had to stop riding for a few weeks just to recover.
What advice would you give Leo about his family history of heart disease? Include in your response 1) lifestyle habits, 2) social habits, and 3)long term goals. Make sure you include all three