Essay on Effectivity of Personalized Classes

Modern medical advancements have significantly decreased the prevalence and severity of infectious disease as well as the treatment of acute, traumatic conditions. Pharmacological research has also gained insight into the management of chronic disease. Still, there is an epidemic of chronic, treatable diseases like stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease. Hypertension proves to be the underlying factor associated with these diseases. Hypertension is often referred to as the silent killer because of its indication in deadly disease, and the importance of monitoring ones blood pressure is vital. Lifestyle, diet, and genetic predisposition are all factors of high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure above safe levels, known as hypertension, puts elevated physical stress on the renal and cardiovascular systems. By controlling this factor in patients, healthcare providers can decrease cardiovascular events, improve health outcomes, and decrease overall mortality. Patient education is often overlooked in its role in the control and prevention of high blood pressure. This paper analyzes the causes and physiology behind high blood pressure as they relate to the current nursing interventions. The role of nurses is discussed in relation to patient education regarding high blood pressure, and educational approaches are analyzed.

Cancer has been the leading cause of death for Volusia County since 2006, with heart disease at a close second. The county’s age-related death rate from cancer is 182.3 per 100,000 people as compared to the state’s total of 160.4, and the national average of 179.1 (Fl Dept of Health). Volusia also has a greater rate of adolescent cigarette smokers, the state average being 6.1%, and Volusia County being 8.3%. Volusia County’s adult smoker population also is greater than the state average, 23.3 vs. 17.2. Volusia residents suffer from heart disease greater than most other Florida counties. In 2012 there were 112.7 deaths per 100,000 people as apposed to the state total of 103.5 and the national total of 179.1. Another concern is with the growing obesity population in which comes with it increased risk for hypertension, heart disease, and many other diseases. Both the county and state totals are approximately 82% higher than the national rate. A group of Volusia County residents, called Healthy Volusia, has made the problem with obesity a top priority (Dept of Health).

Cooper L.A., & Roter D.L., & Carson K.A., & Bone L.R., & Larson S.M., & Miller E.R. III, & Levine D.M. (2011). A randomized trial to improve patient-centered care and hypertension control in underserved primary care patients. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 26, 1297 â[euro]" 1304. 10.1007/s11606-011-1794-6

Latino Americans are the largest growing population in the United Stated and with the rising number of Latinos, we have also been seeing a disparity on health care especially in heart related conditions. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States along with strokes and Latino Americans are at higher risks for coronary heart disease which accounts for 23.9 % of all deaths in the United States and heart disease is the nation's leading cause of death among Hispanic adults. In 2015, approximately 85.6 million or more which is greater than 1 in 3 adults in the United States are diagnosed with at least one type of coronary heart disease. Hispanic Americans are 8.3 % of the total number who have been diagnosed with some kind of coronary

Diabetes is a prevalent health disparity among the Latino population. Diabetes is listed as the fifth leading cause of death among the Latino population in the website for Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, in 2009. According to McBean, “the 2001 prevalence among Hispanics was significantly higher than among blacks.” (2317) In other words among the Hispanic or Latino community, there is a higher occurrence of diabetes as compared to other racial/ethnic groups such as Blacks and Native Americans. The prevalence of diabetes among Latinos is attributed to the social determinants of health such as low socioeconomic status and level of education. Further, this becomes an important public health issue when it costs the

Approximately 1 in 6 individuals are Hispanic in the United States, and the population is expected to grow to 1 in 4 by 2035 (CDC, 2015). Given that, Hispanics are the biggest minority group in the US (CDC, 2015). The leading cause of death among the Hispanic population is heart disease and cancer responsible for around 2 out of 5 deaths (CDC, 2015). Hispanics have a 50% greater chance of death resulting from diabetes or liver disease than whites (CDC, 2015). Additionally, there are 3 times as more uninsured Hispanics than whites (CDC, 2015). According to the US average, whites are 15 years older than the Latino population, so prevention will greatly benefit the health of the Latino population (CDC, 2015).

Hispanic Americans are considered the leading ethnic minority in the United States of America composing 17.4% or 55.4 million of the national population with calculations proposing an increase to 28.6% or 119 million by 2060 (Velasco-Mondragon, Jimenez, Palladino-Davis, Davis, & Escamilla-Cejudo, 2016). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015), Hispanic Americans primarily suffer from chronic diseases processes that primarily stem from obesity and uncontrolled high blood pressure that can lead to heart disease and cancer that as a result affect other organs. A study by Kim-Godwin & McMurry

The concern on whether anti-hypertensive’s should be withheld in patients who are hypertensive has been debatable in the recent past. Generally, the treatment of hypertension among hospitalized patients is basically an opportunity to enhance the recognition and treatment of blood pressure (Axon, Nietert & Egan, 2011, p.246). This is mainly because hypertension is a basic risk factor for heart diseases, stroke, and death whose impact is widespread to nearly 70 million adults in America. There have been numerous educational initiatives and publication of treatment processes to address this condition in the past few decades. Despite these measures, nearly 39 million Americans are at risk of hypertension because they have not reached their desired or optimal blood pressure.

The American Heart Association also recommends a healthy diet, stating, “A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease” (2015). As the client has an elevated blood pressure, a healthy diet may be beneficial and aid in lowering the client’s blood pressure by reducing sodium, limiting caffeine and

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for 17% of the national health expenditure (Heidenreich et al., 2011). In 1985, cardiovascular disease accounted for 10% of the gross domestic product. However, this number increased to 15% in 2008. Meanwhile, the expenses related to cardiovascular disease have increased

The management of co-morbidities in America is an escalating dilemma for advance practice nurses (APNs). As an advance practice nurse (APN) continues to expand in her direct care role the depth and breadth of his/her advanced practice will focus on ongoing management and care of diverse populations that present to the APNs practice with hypertension and other co-morbidities which must be treated suitably with the best evidenced based approach and current guidelines aimed at promotion, maintenance and advancement of patient’s health, prevention or reduction in progression of maladies burden and cost. Hypertension and co-morbidities such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and Hyperlipidemia are health problems frequently seen by practitioners with potentially ravaging, though preventable outcomes.

On this day, I presented my education presentation Nutrition for High Blood Pressure at Shepherd’s Clinics to patients and clients at the wellness center. I chose this topic due to the high number of patients that report to the clinic with a diagnosis of hypertension. For example, since beginning my practicum at the site, I took a tally of those with high blood pressure. More than half the patients being seen by a provider each day had high blood pressure. In addition to the patients seen at the clinic, in the United States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 75 million Americans have high blood pressure (High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet, 2016). Given these facts I wanted to address one big factor in reducing the risks of high blood pressure and reducing the risk of developing heart disease and other health risk. This factor is nutrition, as food plays a major role in managing diseases like blood pressure and diabetes.

The range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status are known as determinants of health. Social determinants of health reflect the social factors and physical conditions of the environment in which people are born, live, learn, play, work, and age. According to Florida Public Health, Heart disease was the second leading cause of death in 2012, accounting for41, 643 deaths. The heart disease age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 populations decreased between 1990 and 2012 from 286.5 to 155.3. Heart disease was the leading cause of death among individuals 85 years or older, accounting for 30.0percent of deaths in this age group.

I was born to a father with the history of Diabetic mellitus and on my mother’s side; there is a history of High Blood Pressure. Although my father is not diabetic, my mother has been diagnosed with blood pressure. Blood pressure has been a steady disease in my household which has affected four out my five uncles. In 2010, after a seven year long battle with infertility, I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure which I was given medication for and shortly thereafter, I had a son after my aggressive treatment. Ever since, I have always link most diseases with food intake and I strongly believe that my nutrition and my health work hand in hand. According to Grodner, Roth &Walkingshaw (2012),

The two major types of hypertension are primary and secondary. Primary hypertension accounts for more than 90% of all cases and has no known cause, although it is hypothesized that genetic factors, hormonal changes, and the altercations in sympathetic tone all may play a role in its development. Secondary hypertension develops as a consequence of an underlying disease or condition. The prevention and treatment of hypertension is a major public health issue. When blood pressure is controlled, cardiovascular, renal disease, and stroke may be prevented. The JCN, reported more than 122 million individuals in American are overweight or obese, consume large amounts of dietary sodium and alcohol, and do not eat adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables; less than 20% exercise regularly. Both modifiable and non-modifiable factors play a role in the development of hypertension