Researchers have not identified specific reasons as to why patients develop chronic diseases, but they have identified these diseases as preventable. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states, “Chronic diseases and conditions- such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity and arthritis- are among the most common, costly and preventable of all health problems” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). These are just a few of the major diseases that impact society, but there are many others that damage specific body systems. Chronic diseases are long term diagnosis that can lead to death. Caring for patients with chronic diseases can be costly to families due to the ongoing care that is necessary. Patients must be educated about the long-term lifestyle changes that need to be incorporated into their everyday life and the possibility of health decline with the disease. It is common for patients with one chronic disease to develop an additional chronic disease related to overall worsening health. Treatment of chronic diseases is a major part of the healthcare profession, nurses and doctors are constantly caring and treating patients with chronic diseases. These diseases alter typical care plans of patients and complicate treatment. Nurses care for patients who have or are being treated for a chronic disease of the heart such as, …show more content…
Per Healthy People 2020, “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States” (Healthy People 2020, 2016). Heart disease is made up of diseases within the heart that overall affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Approximately, “1 in 3 adults (85.6 million) live with 1 or more types of cardiovascular disease” (Healthy People 2020, 2016). Coronary artery disease is a common type of heart disease, “killing 370,000 people annually” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). This disease causes plaque to build up blocking the arteries and decreasing oxygenated blood to the body