HEART DISEASE ACTION PLAN

Dean Russo

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease has been increasing in prominence for quite some time now. With the proliferation of fast food chains and easy access to them (especially in the lower classes), obesity and dietary problems are extremely common. The introduction of television and internet lowered the amount of recreational time spent outside and less time exercising. Smoking and alcohol abuse have grown in size as well, steadily decreasing the average life span. Because of our environment and the influences around us, cardiovascular problems have affected nearly every part of the globe. But the real issue lies in our future generations. Childhood obesity is becoming too common a threat. Sloppy diets and lack of exercise destroy the blood vessels of the heart and fill them with fatty build ups. In recent studies, some obese ten-year-old children have the same quality blood vessels as a 40-year-old. CVD is becoming a major problem, so I have designed a plan to prevent it from become a full scale pediatric illness.

Step 1 (Fitness Plan)

At the beginning of the school year, students will devise a fitness plan to follow throughout the school year.

The plan will consist of an ideal diet, workout routine, and goal weight.

Completion of the goal will be rewarded by the school in the form of credits.

Additional credits = higher ranking classes sooner.

Parents can monitor the progress and add input.

Potential Barriers

Upholding use of the fitness plan (make sure everyone is trying) Solution: Progress is written on progress

reports. Actual method of monitoring progress

Solution: Online journal that the student fills out for the teacher/parent to see

Resources/Methods

Consent of School Board/student body Internet

Step 2 (School Lunches)

A lifetime of malnutrition starts with a poor childhood diet. One of the largest determining factors of a child’s diet is

what they eat as school every day. Average cafeteria foods are filled with empty calories,

trans fats, and little nutritional value. A higher quality diet more diverse in food groups can

boost HDL levels and lower LDL levels in the blood. Instead of greasy foods such as hot dogs and pizza,

healthier options can replace previous food items or coincide with them.

Salads/pastas/vegetable platters provide much more nourishment than fries or burgers.

Start with one school to provide an example for other schools to follow.

Potential Barriers

Implementing such change to the board of education Solution: Insist on healthier diets and provide examples of

what will happen to the children if they are not put on the right path to begin with.

Spreading the healthier food archetype to other schools Solution: One school will act as an exemplary facility for

other schools to imitate; school should be of high standing to begin with

Forming agreements with food manufacturers over which foods to alter/get rid of all together Solution: Meet somewhere in the middle; add new

healthier aspects to already existing products

Resources/Methods

Agreements within facilities Exemplary school Food distributors

Spreading of information (about school/need for healthier options) Internet Ads Television Ads Public Campaigns

Step 3 (Blood Pressure)

A high blood pressure is often a sign of a worse, underlying problem with the body

Routine school blood pressure readings (four times a year) would allow students to be personally aware of their health and be able to adjust their nutrition or exercise plans accordingly

Records are kept on their fitness plans to monitor the child’s progress (improvements in blood pressure)

Potential Barriers

Frequency Solution: If frequency of readings are too close

together, spacing is an easy solution. Conflicts with Board of Education

Solution: Hire more staff to measure blood pressure

Resources/Methods

Sphygmomanometers (measure blood pressure)

Additional staff Additional space to obtain blood pressure

for high quantities of people

Step 4 (Exercise)

Physical education should emphasize more diverse and exertive activities to help strengthen the body (individual activities work the best in this sense).

In addition, the gymnasium and weight room should permanently be open for an extra hour at the end of the school day for kids who wish to get more physical activity.

This works as a nice opportunity for those who wish to improve their body at their own pace (also in accordance to their fitness plan)

Potential Barriers

Conflicting schedules (after school sports) Solution: Another room is chosen to house

workout equipment while athletes use the gym

Not enough people optimize the maximum efficiency of having an extra hour to exercise Solution: More stress can be added to physical

education; more intense workouts until more people are seen after school

Resources/Methods

Gymnasium access Exercise equipment Obligation of gym teacher Consent of school to have doors open one

additional hour

Step 5 (Omega 3)

Maintaining a low blood cholesterol level reduces the chances of CVD related deaths and coronary artery problems.

The Omega 3 fatty acid found in fish oil is an extremely effective counter to CVD; it can lower blood pressure, prevent secondary cardiovascular disease, and lowers the amount of triglycerides in the body.

Omega 3 capsules should either become a recommended or mandatory supplement to be issued in schools during blood pressure readings.

Potential Barriers

Student’s inability to swallow pills Solution: Alternative forms (liquid, etc.)

Getting consent from parents Solution: Not every student needs to take the

pill

Resources/Methods

Omega 3 fish oil capsules/liquid

Step 6 (Scientific Funding)

Create a campaign/fundraiser that illustrates the impact a mutated gene can have on the integrity of blood vessels (such as the MEF2A mutation)

Organize multiple appearances of a hired figure to represent efforts from scientists (appear on talk shows and television programs)

Spread word of the importance of having your family history checked as well as raising money to fund scientific trials to cure hereditary mutations.

Potential Barriers

Finding/hiring spokesperson Solution: Interview a number of people based on social

skill and knowledge Talk show venues

Solution: Start at very small locations, then work upwards. By this time the anti CVD movement would be well known so slots shouldn’t be too hard to obtain.

Obtaining large amounts of popularity before having a shot at television shows Solution: Back up of previous events (radical changes in

schools) Organizing individual fundraisers

Solutions: Get in contact with other science groups pertinent to hereditary functions (i.e. Genetic Alliance)

Resources/Methods

Fundraisers/Events to raise money Talk shows (to get word out) Television Internet

Step 7 (Smoking Awareness)

Tobacco use not only destroys the lungs and throat, but it also fills the coronary arteries with a plaque buildup in an almost direct manner.

Students are aware of the dangers of smoking, but efforts to educated the children are not implemented at the right time and with enough force.

Full throttle and first person enforcement of the dangers of tobacco on the body/heart by a team of speakers.

These speakers would travel across the country and inform students through assemblies

Build an image for them and advertise their knowledge through the internet and television.

Potential Barriers

Finding and hiring the team Solution: Locate a group of people with great

social skills Funding to send them across the country

Solution: Paid by joint school/Truth foundation funds

Funding for ad slots Solution: Paid by the Truth foundation

Resources/Methods

Internet Television Schools Travel Bus Hired professionals (team) Campaigns