On August 17, Associate Professor of Public Health Dr. Heather McClintock and Brianna Koenick ’26MPH, MMS published “An Overview of Cardiovascular Disease” in the American Public Health Association (APHA) International Health (IH) Connect Section. 

Their article gives an overview of cardiovascular disease’s presence, symptoms, and risk factors. By considering risk factors with various origins, Koenick and Dr. McClintock explore routes with the potential to lower occurrences of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, to the point that they are the leading cause of death across the globe. The term refers to a number of diseases and disorders that impact the heart or blood vessels. 

Some risk factors of these diseases are uncontrollable while others can be mitigated. Koenick and Dr. McClintock focus on the factors that disproportionately impact certain populations. Structural racism, among other policies, is perpetuating disparities in housing, education, and healthcare access, putting racial and ethnic minorities at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. 

To achieve cardiovascular-related health equity, they note that the systems in place causing these disparities need to be changed. This is an important consideration in the conversation of lowering cardiovascular disease rates.

Koenick is a current student in Arcadia University’s Dual Degree Program in Master of Public Health and Physician Assistant. Her Public Health capstone research explored relationships between lifestyle factors and dementia-related cognitive outcomes. Dr. McClintock’s areas of research involve determinants, outcomes, and improvement of medication adherence.