Which is an example of the social model approach to cardiovascular disease?

• A. Walking paths
• B. Blood pressure tests
• C. Medication e.g blood thinners
• D. Pacemakers

Answer: (A)

The social model of health focuses on how the places we live and the social conditions around us shape cardiovascular disease risk, not just medical care for individuals. Walking paths are an example because they modify the everyday environment to make physical activity safer and easier for many people. When communities have good walking infrastructure, more people are likely to be active, which helps prevent risk factors like high blood pressure and obesity across the population and supports long-term heart health. This kind of environmental and policy-oriented change targets population-level determinants rather than treating disease after it develops.

In contrast, blood pressure tests are a screening or monitoring activity focused on individuals, medicines like blood thinners are treatments for people at risk or with disease, and pacemakers are medical devices used to manage heart rhythm—all biomedical, patient-centered interventions rather than environmental or societal changes.