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University of Leeds

Causes of Human Disease: Understanding Cardiovascular Disease

University of Leeds via FutureLearn

Overview

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Understand the causes and management of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading global cause of death. On this course, you’ll learn how the cardiovascular system functions and understand common cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, as well as the risk factors associated with them. You’ll also learn about blood pressure, blood sugar control and imbalances, and the role of these in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. You’ll investigate socio-economic factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases, and current management and prevention strategies.

The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in the science behind causes of human disease. No previous knowledge or experience is required. If you are working in nursing, healthcare or social care, or just wish to learn more, this course is designed to support you as a professional. By completing all aspects of the course you will have achieved 14 hours of CPD time.

Syllabus

  • Cardiovascular diseases
    • Welcome
    • How does the blood flow?
    • What are the most common ailments of the heart?
    • Managing and preventing cardiovascular disease
    • Revision
    • Summary
  • Risk factors – blood pressure and blood sugar levels
    • About Week 2
    • Controlling blood pressure
    • Controlling blood sugar levels
    • How can hypertension and diabetes be prevented?
    • Revision
    • Summary

Taught by

Piruthivi Sukumar

Reviews

4.7 rating, based on 17 Class Central reviews

4.7 rating at FutureLearn based on 62 ratings

Start your review of Causes of Human Disease: Understanding Cardiovascular Disease

  • An eye-opening class. Very informative and practical information. I would highly recommend this class to everyone -- for your own personal education, for future studies, or to understand how to live a healthy life. Heart disease is the numb…
  • Anonymous
    I found this course to be far too basic, it was only really at general knowledge level, it covered a very limited field, some in far too much detail.
    Very disappointed that there was no response from the mentors from any of the students comments. Have done many FL courses and none have had so few comments posted. A reflection on the courses quality.
    Unless you know absolutely nothing about the subject don't do this course.
  • Anonymous
    I found the course to be very well presented and of great inteest to myself from a general educational point of view. Ifeel I have acquired a reasonable understandng of te cardiovscular system and am befginning to understand some of factors that affect my stepson's heart. My first degree was in Chemisrty and I learned very little Biology at school so a couse like this suits my requirements at an appropriate level. Many thanks Leeds team!!
  • Anonymous
    Very useful for someone who has lost both a mother and sister (who failed to wake up one morning aged 42) to "angina, ischaemic heart failure, cardio myopathy and probable cardiac arrhythmia," and now is facing a recent lock down diagnosis of hypertension herself!
    You can't choose your parents, but I already knew that !
    Your "Takotsubo talk" made it all clear though, thank you.
  • Anonymous
    Very precise and informative!

    I'm glad that I attended this course.
    It was interesting to understand how cardiovascular diseases contribute to human diseases, the course was very engaging as it had exercises throughout.
  • Profile image for Ganna Amgad
    Ganna Amgad
    Thanks a lot for this course. I really learned lots of new information from it!

    I appreciate your efforts to provide such a nice course.
  • Anonymous
    This has been an informative course as I have someone I know who is diabetic. For me knowing how the cardiovascular system functions, common cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, as well as the risk factors associated with them made me aware that I can do something to support them to regulate the symptoms. I have learnt about blood pressure, blood sugar control and imbalances, and the role of these in diabetes and cardiovascular disease and the strategies to help to prevent or control and manage the risks.
  • Anonymous
    This has been an informative course as I have someone I know who is diabetic. For me knowing how the cardiovascular system functions, common cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, as well as the risk factors associated with them made me aware that I can do something to support them to regulate the symptoms. I have learnt about blood pressure, blood sugar control and imbalances, and the role of these in diabetes and cardiovascular disease and the strategies to help to prevent or control and manage the risks.
  • Anonymous
    Found it a bit superficial for my needs. There seemed little student interaction to my surprise, a couple of controversial comments I posted had no reaction. Course probably fine for someone who knows nothing about the heart etc.
  • Anonymous
    I took this course too understand more of this condition. A family member has a stent in the heart artery - there is a family history. The course was challenging, but so is the body's functions. I was uneasy to learn how dangerous low blood pressure and low sugar levels are, but it is so important to know about it. I thank everyone who made this course possible.
  • Anonymous
    This course was very informative and I feel I learned a lot which will contribute to my learning in the future
  • Bushra Azam
    It was so good to have this course.
    I really enjoyed the course
    it was super amazing and informative.
  • Anonymous
    I took this course because of a case of cardiovascular disease in my family that I wished to understand better, and the course fulfilled this aim very well. The level is sufficiently high/scientific to provide a good understanding of the material without being patronizingly simplistic.
    I was impressed with the well thought-out structure of the course: a plan showing what is studied at each step and how many minutes one should spend on it, and a list of desired learning outcomes - pedagogically excellent. My only small criticism is of the questions checking on comprehension, which, I felt, went beyond what was learnt.
    A big thank you to Dr Sukumar, the educator on the course.
  • Anonymous
    Excellent explanation and descriptions both of the functioning of the heart and circulatory system, and the functioning of insulin. This course brings home the seriousness of type 2 diabetes to a degree I have not read before. This course would and should be of interest to anyone who feels responsible for their own and their family's health. I was able to take a great deal more understanding from it without completing every exercise for which I had insufficient time. I hope to return to the course at some point to refresh my memory.
  • Anonymous
    A big thank you to the professors and course educators whom have taught me on this course. I am so impressed by your knowledge and education on the subject of cardiovascular diseases. And now the knowledge that you have imparted to me will last a lifetime and I am more knowledgeable on this subject.. Thank you most kindly.
  • Anonymous
    I found this course very interesting and informative.

    It was well presented with videos and diagrams explaining in detail how the heart works with important information relating to the causes of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
  • Waqar Ahmad
    Me waqar Ahmed I am interested in the field of cardio so that why I choose this course so I built my knowledge to pursu and facing the hardl so in professional life these sort of course are very help full

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