Behaviors and Environmental Conditions and Determinants in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Cuyahoga County
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Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County Logic Model 2: Behaviors and Environmental Conditions As Well As Determinants, Cuyahoga County, Ohio        Short Term                                                                              Intermediate Outcomes

1. A.    Refined Health Issue

The program's overall goal is to increase public awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, enhance early detection and treatment of the same, over and above, prevent recurrences of heart attacks together with stroke. However, the refined health issue is to improve cardiovascular health and quality of life among Cuyahoga County residents by preventing risk factors for heart attack and stroke. The program will aim to prevent cardiovascular disease by addressing certain behaviors risk factors of heart disease and stroke-like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and specific environmental risk factors such as air pollution, heat extremes, and noise exposure.

1. B.     Behaviors and Environmental Conditions

Behaviors One behavior condition for which there is evidence in terms of its relationship to cardiovascular disease is eating behaviors. After controlling for confounding factors, various studies have shown that each unit increase in unhealthy eating practices is associated with a higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Eating a diet high in saturated fats, cholesterol, trans-fat, and salt has been linked with heart disease along with related conditions such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (Yu et al., 2018). More than two-thirds of cardiovascular deaths globally are tied to food choices, while adopting a healthy diet can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 80% (Shan et al., 2020). Several studies have identified dietary modifications as one of the most critical strategies in preventing cardiovascular disease. These findings highlight the need to shift focus from individual nutrients or foods to underscoring the importance of healthy eating behaviors when promoting cardiovascular health. The program will aim to encourage healthy eating patterns such as eating whole-grain foods, avoiding high-fat foods, eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, choosing healthy sources of protein, minimizing salt intake, and reducing intake of processed foods and beverages. The measurable outcome is: Reduce intake of refined carbohydrates, fatty foods, and salt by 20% in 6 months while increasing intake of fruits and vegetables by 30% within the same period. Environmental Conditions One environmental factor for which there is evidence in terms of its relationship to cardiovascular disease is air pollution: air pollution is a significant risk factor of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases, leading to heart attacks and stroke. Chronic exposure to higher air pollution concentrations, particularly certain particles or gases, has been shown to result in higher cardiovascular prevalence as well as fatality rates (Rajagopalan et al., 2018). For instance, several studies indicate that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter causes an imbalance in chronic oxidant/antioxidant levels, which has adverse implications for the etiology of respiratory as well as cardiovascular diseases. The long-term inflammatory impacts of air pollutants within the respiratory tract result in local consequences like emphysema and asthma, along with chronic outcomes like cardiovascular disorders (Al-Kindi et al., 2020). While Cuyahoga County’s Air Quality Index is higher than most counties in Northeast Ohio, ozone is a significant health threat to those with respiratory symptoms and heart disease. The measurable outcome is: Reduce people’s exposure to harmful air pollutants by 30% within six months.

1. C.    Theoretical Determinants

Self-Control The two determinants for unhealthy eating behavior are self-control and social support. Overeating and overindulging in unhealthy foods is closely linked to discipline. Dietary restraint is founded on self-control, where high self-control promotes healthy food choices while low self-control leads to unhealthy food choices (Georgii et al., 2019). Binge eating requires a certain level of self-control to overcome, and therefore the determinant is tied to the theory of planned behavior (TPB) (McCarthy et al., 2017). The TPB model posits that intention is powered by subjective norm, self-efficacy, attitude, and perceived behavioral control. Application of TPB measures has been shown to increase intention to stop compulsive eating and adopt healthy eating behaviors as intention stability increases. Social Support Moreover, perceived social support is a critical determinant in eating behavior. Social relationships ...