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  • Essay / Me as a Member of My Jamaican Community: Heart Disease Issues

    Table of ContentsOverall Community AnalysisAddressing the High Rate of Heart Disease in My CommunityRoles of Government and Individuals in Promoting Cardiovascular HealthConclusionReferencesIn the In the following lines, I will talk about Jamaica which is the community in which I live. The Great Jamaica area is located in Queens and includes neighborhoods like Hollis to the east, Springfield Gardens, Downtown and South Jamaica Richmond Hill, and Jamaica Estates to the north. My overall impression will be more focused on the population of downtown Jamaica and the residential area of ​​Springfield Gardens. I will reflect on myself as a member of my community in this essay. This community health assessment is carried out to identify the strengths, weaknesses and health needs of the community in order to propose interventions that will promote health. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Overall Community Analysis One Thursday afternoon, I decided to go for a walk around my community. I have lived here for 7 years and decided to explore it more carefully. My community is multicultural and very peaceful. The streets are clean and wide, with sidewalks on both sides. The children like to play at Saint Albans Memorial Park which is closest to my house. Adults also go to the park to exercise. Even if it is not the largest in the city, the Saint Alban park is well maintained and constitutes a privileged place for fun activities for young and old. My community is very practical; it's easy to go to the supermarket, bank and all kinds of stores like hair/nail salon and pharmacies. Residents also have access to 24-hour laundromats. There is a mix of Caribbean, Chinese, Italian and fast food restaurants on every corner. As I walked down Merrick Boulevard, I could see different Christian churches, a college, and a health-related professional facility. Most of the people I met spoke English but came from different backgrounds; in fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27% of residents speak a language other than English at home. Indo-European languages ​​are the second most spoken language (13%), followed by Spanish (12%) and other languages ​​(2%). Downtown Jamaica includes important institutions such as the Northeast Regional Laboratory, Queens Hospital Center, Queens County Family and Civil Courts. Access to public transportation makes it easier for those who do not own a car to get around the city and connect with other districts. Downtown Jamaica also includes home health agencies and emergency medical services available at Jamaica Hospital. According to the United States Census Bureau, with an estimated population of 232,911, Jamaica is one of the most populated areas in New York City. The black population is the majority (66%) followed by Latinos (17%), Asians (12%), whites (2%) and others (3%). 22% of the population is under 17 years old, 10% is between 18 and 24 years old, 27% is between 25 and 44 years old, 27% is between 45 and 64 years old. Life expectancy is approximately 80.5 years (NYC Health 2018). The majority of the population is female (54%). Of the 40% of married people, 44% are men and 37% are women (US Census Bureau 2018). More women are divorced (10%) than men (7%), and more women are widowed (9%) than men (3%) (US Census Bureau 2018). However, there are more men who do notare never married (47%) than women (44%) (US Census Bureau 2018). In terms of education, 32% of Jamaican residents have a high school diploma, 15% have a bachelor's degree. and 18% do not have a degree (US Census Bureau 2018). Jamaica has a high percentage of primary school absenteeism; 22% compared to 20% in New York City overall. However, most high school students (75%) graduate on time (NYC Health 2018). Educational institutions include elementary schools like Cynthia Jenkins, middle schools like Redwood Middle School, high schools like Jamaica High School, and CUNY York College. Jamaica was once classified as an area of ​​violence and high crime rates. According to the Global Homicide Report, homicide rates in Jamaica were estimated at 62.2 per 100,000 population between 2000 and 2010. The high rate of hospitalizations due to assaults, 68% compared to 59% overall New York City, is an example of the violence that was present in the community decades ago. Over the past ten years, crime rates have declined significantly thanks to significant public investment but also the presence of police who maintain public order and security in the community. Many children (16%) and adults aged 65 and over (15%) live in poverty. In addition, 12% of the population is unemployed. In fact, people living in deep poverty have limited access to employment, good education and housing/shelter. Despite all the difficulties the community faces, neighbors are close-knit and ready to help each other in times of need. They ensure their property is well maintained, do not disturb others with loud music, and invite each other to a meal on special occasions. The community is primarily made up of commercial and retail businesses, which is very convenient for residents and promotes economic development in the area. Jamaica also includes a residential area and government offices such as the Social Security Administration. Most areas have a healthy environment that can reduce the risk of respiratory diseases. Air conditioning is available in homes; In Jamaica, nine out of ten households have working air conditioners. Another strength of the community is access to vaccination which provides immunity against disease; for example, 55% of adolescents have received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Unlike some areas of New York City, Jamaica does not have roads with bike lanes, making it unsafe for cyclists. Some residents face poorly maintained housing situations such as water leaks, broken toilets and insects in the house; it has been reported that 20% of residents have seen cockroaches in their homes. There is also evidence of a lack of antenatal care in the community, which may contribute to prenatal deliveries or neonatal deaths. In fact, quality health care during and after pregnancy benefits both the mother and the newborn. The presence of parasites, mold and passive smoking have triggered respiratory problems in many residents, leading to hospitalizations that could have been avoided; 202 children out of 10,000 went to the emergency room due to asthma attacks. Another community weakness is the lack of physical activity and high consumption of sugary drinks which can increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. In fact, Jamaica's population mainly dies from heart disease, cancer andof diabetes. Studies have shown that the mortality rate from diabetes is 55% higher in Jamaica than in New York City as a whole. Many adults also engage in behaviors that put them at high risk of HIV infection. Solve the problem of high rates of heart disease in my community Through my research, I discovered that heart disease, which runs in my family, is the leading cause of death in my community; According to NYC Health, approximately 745 people per 100,000 residents die from it each year. After assessing my community and identifying heart disease as a major health issue, I decided to tackle this issue. Heart disease refers to a group of heart conditions that can lead to a heart attack (coronary artery disease) or heart failure, if the problem involves the valves of the heart. Chest pain or a heart attack are usually the first signs of heart disease. Other symptoms include jaw, arm or shoulder, neck or back pain, weakness, nausea and shortness of breath. Additionally, certain conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking can increase the risk of heart complications. Studies have shown that overweight people are more likely to die from heart disease than those of normal weight. In fact, there is a high prevalence of obesity in my community, particularly among children; In Jamaica, 23% of children are obese, compared to 20% citywide, 13% of residents are heavy smokers, 16% are diabetic and 37% have high blood pressure. Additionally, the population is less likely to engage in physical activity that increases their risk of developing heart disease. Roles of Government and Individuals in Promoting Cardiovascular Health The community has a wide range of resources to meet the needs of the population. Queens Hospital Center, located in the southeastern region of Queens, provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services to various neighborhoods, including Jamaica. With its Heart Failure Unit and Heart Failure Clinic, Queens Hospital Center provides high-quality care to patients suffering from heart disease and heart failure. The community also has access to urgent care centers such as CityMD. Jamaica Hospital's on-site ambulatory care center, health homes that meet medical, behavioral and long-term care needs. Additionally, specialized medical providers, nutritionists and dietitians as well as advanced heart failure programs at NYU Langone are also available to residents. As a community health nurse, my main intervention would be to educate my patients on the benefits of lifestyle changes, diet. a healthy diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent heart disease. I would encourage them to quit smoking because smoking puts a lot of strain on the heart and prevents it from getting enough oxygen. My secondary intervention would be to encourage my patients to have regular checkups and screening tests, especially those at high risk, for early detection of possible heart problems. My tertiary intervention would be aimed at those who already have the disease. I would encourage my patients to take their medications as prescribed, maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid any activity that increases cardiac workload, such as lifting heavy objects, in order to decrease their symptoms, prevent complications such as insufficiency, 10(3), 78-92.