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The Open University

Understanding cardiovascular diseases

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

This course aims to help learners understand cardiovascular diseases by exploring topics such as the global impact of these diseases, risk factors, prevention strategies, early warning signs, immediate and long-term treatments, and living with cardiovascular diseases. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify risk factors, describe preventive measures, recognize early warning signs, and understand treatment options for cardiovascular diseases. The course teaches skills such as using medical terminology, analyzing lifestyle choices, and implementing preventive strategies. The teaching method includes lectures, readings, case studies, and self-assessment quizzes. This course is intended for individuals interested in healthcare, medicine, or public health, as well as those looking to enhance their knowledge of cardiovascular diseases and their management.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 What are cardiovascular diseases?
  • 1 What are cardiovascular diseases?
  • 1.1 A simple introduction
  • 1.2 Broad defintions of cardiovascular diseases
  • 1.3 There's a lot of it about: the global picture of cardiovascular diseases
  • 1.3.1 Who is affected by cardiovascular diseases?
  • 1.4 Decline of cardiovascular diseases in Western society?
  • 1.5 Economic impact of cardiovascular diseases
  • 2 Studying cardiovascular diseases
  • 2 Studying cardiovascular diseases
  • 2.1 Using medical terminology: building a glossary
  • 3 Risk factors
  • 3 Risk factors
  • 3.1 Lifestyle choices
  • 3.2 Diabetes as a risk factor
  • 3.2.1 Fats
  • 4 Prevention is better than cure
  • 4 Prevention is better than cure
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 The National Service Framework
  • 4.3 Education, education, education
  • 4.4 Obesity and cardiovascular diseases
  • 4.4.1 Measures of adiposity
  • 4.5 What can individuals do?
  • 4.6 A balanced diet
  • 4.7 Special circumstances?
  • 5 Early warning signs
  • 5 Early warning signs
  • 6 When things go wrong
  • 6 When things go wrong
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • 7 Immediate treatment of cardiovascular diseases
  • 7 Immediate treatment of cardiovascular diseases
  • 8 Long-term treatment, and living with cardiovascular diseases
  • 8 Long-term treatment, and living with cardiovascular diseases
  • 8.1 Interventions
  • 8.2 Secondary prevention using drugs
  • 8.3 Issues with medications
  • 8.4 When surgery is required
  • 8.5 How things change
  • 9 Conclusion
  • 9 Conclusion
  • 10 Test your knowledge
  • 11 Additional resources
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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