CHOOSE TWO AT-RISK HEALTH ISSUES THAT REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND ACTIVITY CAN HELP PREVENT AND MANAGE NRS 434
CHOOSE TWO AT-RISK HEALTH ISSUES THAT REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND ACTIVITY CAN HELP PREVENT AND MANAGE NRS 434
For the middle-aged adult, exercise can reduce the risk of various health problems. Choose two at-risk health issues that regular physical exercise and activity can help prevent and manage. Discuss the prevalence of each of these health problems in society today. Describe measures that you would take as a nurse to assist clients with health promotion measures to incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives. Include the kind of activities you would recommend, the amount of exercise, and the approach you would use to gain cooperation from the client. Support your response with evidence-based literature.
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Middle- aged adults experience a variety of health concerns, varying from terminal illness to minor problems. Though our health is very important to us, the reality should be addressed with the individual early on in the diagnosis. Two health issues that can be improved with regular activity are hypertension and high cholesterol. According to Falkner, “Proper nutrition and physical activity are essential and lead to positive effects on overall health and help to prevent disease”…“ For instance, if the patient does not have access or financial means to join a gym, the nurse could help them develop a home workout regimen or a walking plan. The nurse should also provide proper nutrition recommendations such as those described on the Unites States Food and Drug Administration (USDA) website” (2018).
Hypertension is a pesky illness that may stay borderline for years, but the body can only tolerate the higher pressures within the blood vessels before it starts to damage vital organs and cause further health issues. The CDC conducted a study which showed “During 2015–2016, the prevalence of hypertension was 29.0% and increased with age: age group 18–39, 7.5%; 40–59, 33.2%; and 60 and over, 63.1%” (CDC, 2017). The fact is, these rates will continue to climb unless action is taken to reverse these illnesses. Increasing physical activity and exercise will allow these individuals to improve heart health, as well as become more aware of other health improvements. Along with changing your lifestyle, you should also encourage the individuals to monitor blood pressure daily, provide better dietary choices low in fats and salts, and also giving the individual the ability to still feel like they have options.
High Cholesterol is another illness that can be modified if lifestyle and dietary changes are made. According to the CDC, “Nearly 94 million U.S. adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Twenty-eight million adults in the United States have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL” (CDC, 2017). The goal for optimal cholesterol is anything less than 200 mg/dL. According to Heart, “Eat a heart-healthy diet. Focus on plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit saturated fats and trans fats. Monounsaturated fat, found in olive and canola oils, is a healthier option. Avocados, nuts and oily fish are other sources of healthy fat” (2021). They also suggest “Exercise regularly. With your doctor’s OK, work up to at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five times a week. Don’t smoke. If you smoke, find a way to quit” (Heart, 2021).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017d). New CDC report: More than 100 million Americans
have diabetes or prediabetes. Retrieved from
My cholesterol guide. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-
topics/cholesterol/cholesterol-tools-and-resources. Accessed March 10, 2021.
RO
Rizalina Orencia
Posted Date
Feb 20, 2022, 9:02 PM
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According to Erikson’s stage of development, the middle-aged adult is in the generativity versus stagnation stage wherein roles within the society and contribution to the society are balanced with personal success ( Grand Canyon University, 2018). This equates to stress and less attention to health. Diabetes in the United States has increased to 100 million cases according to the CDC (CDC, 2017). The prevalence of diabetes among adults from 2018-2019 also depends on education level, with 13.4% has less than high school education, 9.2% with high school education, and 7.1% with higher than high school learning ( CDC, 2021). Diabetes also may go hand in hand with the other health risk issue of coronary heart disease for a middle-aged adult. Both these risk factors may be prevented or managed by an increase in physical exercise and a change in lifestyle (Folsom et. al, 2003).
The first measure to take as a nurse to assist patients with health promotion measures is to do a thorough assessment on the patient, including their willingness to learn and change their lifestyle. Then the patient can be enrolled and assisted in proper education using evidence-based materials, connecting them to the right health care team such as the cardiac rehab program that will tailor the exercise program and the lifestyle changes needed, for example, the target heart rate, the proper exercise activity to start the program then to increase the intensity (Healthwise, 2022). Ensuring the patient that the exercise program will be tailored to their initial capacity, and to enumerate the benefits they will get may get a better result
References:
Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2018). Health assessment: Foundations for effective practice. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs434vn/health-assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/
Healthwise. (2022). Peace Health. Retrieved from: Coronary Artery Disease: Exercising for a Healthy Heart | PeaceHealth
Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes | Diabetes | (2021). Retrieved from: Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes | Diabetes | CDC
Folsom, A. R., Chambless, L. E., Duncan, B. B., Gilbert, A. C., Pankow, J. S., & Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Investigators (2003). Prediction of coronary heart disease in middle-aged adults with diabetes. Diabetes care, 26(10), 2777–2784. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.26.10.2777
