Heart Disease in Developed Countries (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Causes of Heart Disease

What is heart disease?

• Heart disease is a type of cardiovascular disease

  • This refers to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels

• The most common type of cardiovascular disease is coronary heart disease

  • This is when blood vessels supplying the heart with blood become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits

  • Other cardiovascular diseases affect the heart itself or the arteries carrying blood to other parts of the body, such as the brain

  • Cardiovascular diseases can lead to heart attacks, strokes, angina and heart failure

• Cardiovascular diseases are non-communicable

What is the global distribution of heart disease?

• More than half a billion people around the world are affected by cardiovascular diseases

  • They are the most common cause of death globally, accounting for around 32% of all deaths in 2022

• The highest rates of cardiovascular diseases are found in developed countries

  • This is mainly due to lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise

  • However, many developed countries are seeing declines in death rates as prevention and treatment improve

• Meanwhile, rates of cardiovascular disease in developing countries are rising

• About 80% of deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases occur in low- and middle-income countries

  • This is mainly due to poor access to healthcare

What causes heart disease?

• Poor diet

  • A diet that is high in saturated fats can increase cholesterol, which narrows the arteries

  • Too much salt can raise blood pressure, increasing strain on the heart

  • Too much sugar can increase the chances of diabetes, increasing the risk for heart disease

  • A poor diet can also lead to weight gain

• Lack of exercise

  • This results in the heart becoming less efficient at pumping blood around the body

  • High blood pressure, high cholesterol and weight gain are more likely

• Obesity and diabetes

  • Excess weight increases strain on the heart and is linked to high blood pressure and high cholesterol

  • Diabetes damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of blockages

• Smoking

  • Smoking can damage arteries, making it more likely that they will become clogged

  • It also reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, putting the heart under extra strain

• Stress

  • Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, putting extra strain on the heart

• Age and genetics

  • The risk of cardiovascular disease increases as people get older

  • People are likely to suffer from high cholesterol or high blood pressure as a result of their family history

Effects of Heart Disease

Effects of heart disease on people

• People with heart disease suffer from a range of symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath, especially during exercise

  • Tiredness and reduced stamina

  • Chest pain/angina, due to the arteries becoming blocked

  • Numbness, pain, or coldness in some parts of the body due to poor circulation

  • Heart attacks if arteries become fully blocked

    • Symptoms include pain in the chest, dizziness, sweating, nausea, and breathlessness

  • Strokes if blood flow to the brain is reduced

    • Symptoms include numbness on one side, confusion, difficulty speaking, seeing or walking

  • Long-term damage to the heart or heart failure if the heart becomes too weak to pump blood around the body

Effects of heart disease on communities and countries

• Lower life expectancies

  • For example, Glasgow has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the UK and one of the lowest life expectancies

  • The death of loved ones causes grief for families and negatively affects their health and well-being

• Poor health and long-term sickness

  • This leads to a loss of income for the person and their family

  • This could cause them to fall into poverty or experience a poorer standard of living

  • Other family members may also have to give up work to act as carers

• More sick days or people being unable to work

  • This reduces productivity and profits for businesses

  • This leads to lower tax income for the government

• More pressure on the health and welfare system

  • There may be a shortage of beds in hospitals

  • The cost of healthcare increases for medication and treatment

  • Higher spending on benefits due to people being unable to work

    • Money needs to be diverted away from other sectors such as education, which could lead to slower progress in those areas

Strategies to Manage Heart Disease

Education and lifestyle changes

• People can be encouraged to exercise more regularly to maintain a healthy heart

• Leaflets and support groups can raise awareness about how to eat healthily and which foods to avoid

  • This can reduce the number of people suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure

• As people become more aware of the risks, they are more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices

  • For example, maintaining a healthy weight to reduce strain on the heart

Medication to prevent and treat heart disease

• Statins help to lower cholesterol and prevent arteries from becoming blocked

• Blood pressure medications, such as beta blockers, help to reduce blood pressure, reducing the risk of strokes, heart attacks and heart failure

• Blood-thinning medicines such as Warfarin reduce the chances of blood clotting

• Clot-busting medicines help to break up clots and restore blood flow, improving survival rates for people who suffer heart attacks or strokes 

Surgery and emergency care

• Pacemakers can be implanted to keep the heart beating at a steady rhythm

• Stents can be inserted into clogged or narrowed arteries to keep them open and restore blood flow 

• Bypass surgery allows doctors to reroute blood flow around a blocked artery using a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body

• Heart valves can be repaired or replaced

• People can be given heart transplants if their heart becomes too weak or damaged

• Mobile defibrillators deliver electric shocks to restart a stopped heart, increasing survival rates