IndexOverall community analysisAddressing the problem of high rate of heart disease in my communityGovernment and individual roles in promoting cardiovascular healthConclusionReferencesIn the following lines, I will talk about Jamaica which is the community where I live. The Great Jamaica area is located in Queens and includes neighborhoods such as 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 central Jamaica and the Springfield Gardens residential area. In this essay I will reflect on myself as part of my community. This community health assessment is performed to identify the strengths, weaknesses and health needs of the community to propose interventions that promote health. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Overall Community Analysis One Thursday afternoon I decided to take a walk in my community. I have been living here for 7 years and I 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 go and play at the Saint Albans Memorial park, the closest to my house. Even adults go to train at the park. Although not the largest in the city, Saint Alban Park is well maintained and is a great place for fun activities for people of all ages. My community is very convenient; it's easy to go to the supermarket, bank and all kinds of shops such as hairdressers/pedicures 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 along Merrick Boulevard, I could see several Christian churches, a middle school, and a professional healthcare 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 others (2%). Central Jamaica consists of major 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 don't own a car to get around the city and connect with other neighborhoods. Central Jamaica also includes home health agencies and emergency medical services which can be found at Jamaica Hospital. According to the US 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 in 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 male and 37% are female (US Census Bureau 2018). There are more divorced women (10%) than men (7%), and more women are widowed (9%) than men (3%) (US Census Bureau 2018). However, there are more men who have never married (47%) than women (44%) (US Census Bureau 2018). When it comes to education, 32% of Jamaica residents have a high school diploma, 15% have a bachelor's degree. and 18% do not have a college degree (US Census Bureau 2018). Jamaica has a high rate of absenteeism from schoolselementary; 22% compared to 20% for all of New York City. However, most high school students (75%) graduate on time (NYC Health 2018). Educational facilities include elementary schools such as Cynthia Jenkins, middle schools such as Redwood Middle School, high schools such as Jamaica High School and CUNY York College. Jamaica was once classified as a violent and high crime area. According to the Global Homicide Report, Jamaica's homicide rate was estimated at 62.2 per 100,000 population from 2000 to 2010. The high rate of hospital admissions for assaults, 68 percent compared to 59 percent for New York City as a whole, it is an example of the violence that was present in the community decades ago. In the last ten years, the crime rate has decreased enormously thanks to large public investments but also to the presence of the police who maintain public order and safety in the community. Many children (16%) and adults aged 65 and older (15%) live in poverty. Furthermore, 12% of the population is unemployed. Indeed, people living in conditions of high poverty have limited access to work, good education and housing/shelter. Despite all the difficulties the community is facing, the neighbors are strongly bonded and willing to help each other when necessary. They make sure their property is well maintained, do not disturb others with loud music, and invite each other for a meal on special occasions. The community is mainly composed of commercial and retail shops, which is very convenient for the inhabitants and promotes the economic development of the region. Jamaica also consists of 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 the houses; nine out of 10 families in Jamaica have working air conditioners. Another strength of the community is access to vaccinations that guarantee immunity against diseases; for example, 55% of adolescents have received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Unlike some areas of New York, Jamaica does not have streets with bike lanes making them dangerous for cyclists. Some residents are faced with inadequate housing situations such as water leaks, toilet failures and the presence of insects in the house; It has been reported that 20% of residents have seen cockroaches in their home. There is also evidence of a lack of antenatal care in the community which may contribute to antenatal birth or neonatal death. In fact, quality healthcare during and after pregnancy is beneficial to both mother and newborn. The presence of parasites, mold and second-hand smoke has caused respiratory problems in many residents leading to hospitalizations that could have been avoided; 202 out of 10,000 children went to the emergency room due to asthma attacks. Another weakness of the community 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, the population of Jamaica dies mainly from heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Studies have shown that the death rate from diabetes is 55% higher in Jamaica than in New York City as a whole. Many adults also engage in behaviors that place them at high risk of HIV infection. Addressing the High Rate of Heart Disease in My Community Through my research, I have discovered that heart disease, which affects my family, is the leading cause of death in my community; According to NYC Health, approximately 745 of them die each year100,000 inhabitants. After assessing my community and identifying heart disease as a major health problem, I decided to address this issue. Heart disease refers to a group of heart conditions that can lead to a heart attack (coronary heart disease) or heart failure if the problem affects the heart's valves. Chest pain or a heart attack are usually the first signs of heart disease. Other symptoms include pain in the jaw, arm or shoulder, neck or back, 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 found that overweight people are more likely to die from heart disease than those of normal weight. In fact, in my community there is a high prevalence of obesity, especially among children; 23% of children in Jamaica are obese compared to 20% in the rest of the city, 13% of residents are heavy smokers, 16% are diabetics and 37% suffer from hypertension. Additionally, the population is less likely to engage in any physical activity that increases the risk of developing heart disease. Government and Individual Roles in Promoting Cardiovascular Health The community has a wide range of resources to address 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 several neighborhoods, including Jamaica. With its heart failure unit and heart failure clinic, Queens Hospital Center provides high-quality care to patients with heart disease and heart failure. The community also has access to urgent care centers like CityMD. Jamaica Hospital's on-site ambulatory care center, health homes providing medical, behavioral and long-term care needs. Additionally, specialty medical providers, nutritionists and dieticians, as well as heart failure prevention programs at NYU Langone are also available to residents. As a community health nurse, my primary intervention would be to educate my patients about the benefits of lifestyle modifications, healthy eating and nutrition, getting regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent heart disease. I would encourage them to stop smoking because smoking puts a lot of stress on the heart and prevents it from getting enough oxygen. My secondary intervention would be to encourage my patients to undergo regular health checks and screening tests, especially those at high risk, for early detection of potential heart problems. My tertiary intervention would be for those who already have the disease. I would encourage my patients to take medications as prescribed, maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid any activity that increases cardiac workload such as heavy lifting to reduce symptoms, prevent complications such as heart failure heart rate and promote quality of life. important role in cardiovascular health. By investing in cardiovascular medicine, the government promotes important advances in research into heart disease, cardiovascular health and better disease management for the population. Individuals also have a great responsibility in addressing heart disease. They should follow a healthy lifestyle, as I said before, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, they can join or donate to organizations dedicated to fighting heart disease such as the American Heart Association. They can too, 10(3), 78-92.