Cardiovascular Epidemic

By: Ed Roska RN

In 2006, the American Heart Association (AHA) reported more than 80 million people have one or more cardiovascular disease. Heart disease claimed over 800,000 lives in 2005; 300,000 more than cancer, 5 times more than accidents and 80 times more than HIV. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the world. It is also the leading cause of disability. According to the Council of Disability Awareness (2008), 24 million Americans need on-going treatments, surgeries and medications that is costing our economy $1.3 trillion per year. This is just the direct cost of therapy. The indirect cost of heart disease is even greater to patients and their families. Loss of income because of surgeries and recovery can drastically affect the lives of family members.
One of the goals stated in the health people 2010 publication is increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life. Facts proved that cardiovascular diseases takes the most life and causes the most disability in patients and love ones. Hence, decreasing deaths and affected lives by cardiac disease will get us closer to achieving the goal of healthy people 2010.
A community health nurse work with a wide range of health care providers to ensure patients receive a full range of care. The main focus of a community health nurse is illness prevention and early interventions. Their goal is to avoid exacerbations and unnecessary hospitalization.
My goal for healthy people 2010 would be to increase education pertaining to heart care and decreasing death related to cardiac arrest. The objectives for these goals would be to reinforce the knowledge regarding the importance of activity, exercise and weight control, increase the communities’ knowledge about modifiable risk factors such as cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking and increasing the numbers of individuals capable of responding to a cardiac event.
The simplest and only answer to the epidemic that is cardiac disease is education. A community health nurse can provide this by working together with institutions like churches and health care facilities. Partnering with these institutions a nurse can develop educational programs and clinics that can provide community members a resource for their illness. A nurse cannot change a life-style of an individual but a nurse can change behaviors through education.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Ed Roska, RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

Epilepsy

By Karlie Peters, RN.

What is Epilepsy? “Epilepsy is a neurological condition, which affects the nervous system” (Epilepsy, 2009). Epilepsy and seizures affect people in many different ways. An individual is diagnosed with Epilepsy, when they have had two seizures without any cause from a medical condition. A community nurse can help a client “self-manage” their seizures by understanding the three parts of seizures. The three parts of seizures are the beginning, middle, and end.
If an individual is aware of the first part “the beginning”, which is considered a warning. Unfortunately some may not have warning signs. The middle stage has many different forms. People whom have warning signs, it may be a simple aura, turn into a complex partial seizures or convulsion. People without warnings, may have a seizure that continues into a complex partial seizure or a convulsion. People with epilepsy/seizures need to be informed of the end stage of this disease because this is when the individual transitions back into a normal state. One needs to be informed of the length this period of time last, which can be seconds to minutes, even hours, depending of the affected portion of the brain.
The community nurse can help stress the early (warning) signs of seizures to those who are in the early diagnosing stage, such as sensory/thought, emotional, and physical signs. The nurse should get the individual prepared with emergencies, treatment and safety matters.
One-way to “self manage” seizures is teamwork, whether healthcare team members, family and the individual. A seizure’s diary can help one keep tack of the types of seizures, meds, treatments, side effects, concerns, contacts information, prescription refills, and list medical appointments and take a copy to appointments. Having epilepsy/seizures can be scary, but if one is acknowledgeable about triggers they can minimize the number of attacks with the diary. Triggers are different for each individual person. Some triggers happen during sleep or while waking up, women may have seizures during parts of the menstrual cycle, or when under high stress. The community nurse can encourage the individual to seek support groups and take with family for support. One can also get involved with Blogs through websites such as http://www.epilepsy.com/ which provides information, community, and empowerment.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Karlie Peters, RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

The Benefits of Promoting Active Aging During the School Years

By: Zondra Davis, RN

Customizing community based nursing projects to promote physical activity in young children is an excellent way to get future Americans moving towards improved health.

Having a sedentary lifestyle is a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cerebrovascular disease; the three leading causes of death in America (www.cdc.gov).

Physical inactivity diminishes life expectancy not only by predisposing to aging-related diseases but it also negatively influences the aging process itself. Astronomical morbidity rates can be linked to physically inactivate lifestyles. Individuals who get regular exercise enjoy lower rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, and osteoporosis.

The prevalence of overweight children has tripled over the last 20 years (Clark, 2008). Our couch potato culture exacerbated by technology that requires much less activity to accomplish chores, homework, and entertainment has resulted in the swelling of the youngest waistlines. Many obese children, ravaged by depression and ill-health, threaten to be the first generation of Americans to have a lower life expectancy than their parents!

School nurses are in a unique position to promote physically active lifestyles throughout the school years to help youngsters ward off chronic illnesses associated with sedentary lifestyles. Children are impressionable and can reap the benefits of improved self-concept, stress management capacity, and physiological functioning that facilitates coping and optimal development across the lifespan. Comprehensive wellness education beginning in kindergarten can introduce age appropriate fun movement to children as they are taught to appreciate the benefits of lifelong fitness. Including daily fitness instruction into the school curriculum under the direction of conversant school nurses is a great way to develop children’s interest in exercise to ensure more than a good grade in gym; but a good deposit towards an improved quality of life.

School nurses can help to create a generation of Americans who have positive attitudes about aging, and who actively plan for healthy aging (Mcguire & Mefford, 2007).CitationsClark, M.J. (2008). Community health nursing advocacy for population health. 5th ed. Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River: NJMcGuire, SL., Mefford, L (2007) Growing up and growing older. Journal of School Nursing, 23 (2): 80-85.www.cdc.gov/nchs/FASTATS/deaths.htm. Retrieved July 23, 2009

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Zondra Davis RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

Body Mass Index

By: Rosalind Anderson RN

The state of IL has implemented policies requiring mandatory physical exam including BMI screening upon entering 1st, 5th and 9th grades. However data indicates that annual screening may be preferable. Despite the intentions of state required BMI screening programs, screening lacking follow-up with a child who is identified as obese/overweight or at risk, is futile.

Parents may be motivated to take action after receiving their child’s BMI results, but their community might lack the appropriate medical care service, access to healthy and affordable food choices, safe locations for physical activity, or other resources needed to address the problem. BMI screening programs cannot help young people achieve a healthy weight if adequate school or community services do not exist for appropriate follow-up (Nihiser, A. et al, 2007).

Because BMI screening programs are not intended to diagnose weight status, schools should refer students who need follow-up to appropriate local medical care providers. Before initiating a screening program, schools should work with the local medical community to ensure that adequate diagnostic and treatment services are available, staffed by employees with appropriate training, and accessible to all students, including those with low family incomes or without insurance. Schools should also identify school- or community-based health promotion programs that encourage physical activity and healthy eating. School nurses should be educated, trained, and equipped with the appropriate resources to respond to parents requesting guidance. School nurses can be a valuable resource during the follow-up period because they can provide parents with a clear explanation of the results and health risks associated with obesity, develop an action plan for behavior change, and connect the family to medical care in the community (Nihiser, A. et al, 2007).

References

Nihiser, A., Lee, S., Weschler, H., McKenna, M., Odom, E., Reinhold, E., Thompson, D.,
Grummer-Strawn, L. (2007, Dec.). Body mass index measurement in schools.
Journal of School Health, 77(10), 651-674.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Rosalind Anderson RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

Abuse and Neglect Among Children

By Karlie Peters RN

Abuse can be defined as “put to a wrong or bad use; misapply, do wrong to; injure; violate; defile, and attack with contumelious language” (Webster’s Dictionary). Abuse can take on many forms, such as physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Child abuse is not limited to a certain age, race, sex, socioeconomic background or religion. Years of child abuse can have a variety of adverse affects on those whom are victims, such as adult behavior problems, “prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse, and more unprotected sexual activity” (Dilorio, Hartwell, & Hansen, 2002). It is estimated that “700,000 to 4 million women and children are forced into the international sex trade every year in response to conditions of poverty, low social status women, lax border surveillance, and police collusion” (Clark, 389). Most of the sex workers in India are under the age of 18.
Primary health promotion interventions are based on the promotion and protection or prevention of the issue at hand. A community nurse can help educate the community and family members of any issues of a situation. Starting with the community, a community health nurse can round up all citizens with concern for abuse to get involved with identifying the problem, preventing the situation and to treat the victims of abuse and neglect. The first step of awareness is to spread the word. Monthly or weekly community meetings to discuss abuse can help citizens of the community be aware of the problem. Assemblies at schools, ranging from kindergarten to high school age and available counseling at schools may help children feel comfortable with seeking advice.
The National Foundation for Abused and Neglected Children (NFANC) can be considered as a secondary health promotion intervention. The NFANC reports over 30,000 cases of abuse and neglect in a year. They protect children under the age of 18 with the practices of a risk-oriented case management. The NFANC delivers services to those in need to reduce the risk of abuse.
Tertiary interventions involves coping and dealing with the long-term effects of abuse. The NFANC also helps families with preservation, which implies that they do not intervene when the situation is not in need of fixing. Therapy and counseling can help individuals deal with the long-term mental affects on a child. Long term affects can also include the separation of families, moving out of the children’s comfort zone, such as their home and school, and even withdrawal from social environments due to fear.

References

Clark, M.J. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations. (5th Ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Karlie Peters RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

BY Abigail Ogunniyi RN

Obesity is an unhealthy accumulation of body fats. It is the most common nutritional disease in the United States of America. It occurs as a result of imbalance between food eaten and energy expanded. It can be caused by unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, genetic, hormonal, and medications. It is usually diagnosed by Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation.
Childhood obesity is a major public health issue, over the past four decades, obesity rates in the United States of America have more than quadrupled among children ages six years to eleven years, more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 years to 19 years and nearly tripled among children ages 2 years to five years. In 2000, for example 15.3% of children were obese compared to nearly 5.7% in 1980 (Clark, 2008). These increasing rates pose a serious health and economic threat to the nation. Being obese or overweight increases the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes and many other serious health conditions. Preventing obesity during childhood is critical as research shows that obese adolescents have up to an 80% chance of becoming obese adults.
To effectively address this problem, primary interventions includes teaching about the importance of healthy diet and physical activity. Advocating for healthy school meal programs as well as healthy diet in home settings; also advocating for increase in physical education time and providing schools with needed physical activity equipments.
Secondary intervention includes educating families/public regarding the consequences of childhood obesity including heart diseases, type II diabetes and other serious health conditions. Tertiary interventions includes referring obese children for counseling to improve self image if needed, promoting lifestyle changes consistent with weight management.

References

Clark, M.J. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations. (5th Ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Abigail Ogunniyi RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.

Child Abuse: How to Prevent Abuse

By: Patricia Thomas RN

The statistics are an eye opener an estimated 906,000 children are victims of abuse and neglect every year. Child abuse can occur in many different ways, the results are till the same. Sexual and phyisical abuse are prominantly found since it leaves physical and mental evidence behind. However emotional and abuse and neglect is just as common. Anyone under the age of 18 who's been abused or neglected by someone responsible for his/her care not just parents are victims of child abuse.There several complicated risks factors:

1.) History of child abuse, a personal history a learnedpattern from childhood.

2.) A limited ability to deal with stressors such ascaring for a child with disabillilties, caregiver financial, poor socilization, and relationship stress.

3.) Alcohol and drug abuse serious lapses in judgment.

4.) Domestic violence,frequently performed in the house will escalate to physical violence against the child as well. Abuse occurs in all socioeconomic level, however in poverty -stricken families it can occurs up to 20-25 times more likely experiencing maltreatment, according to the NIS-3. The NIS-3 found that race doesn't play a role in cases of abuse and neglect.

What does abuse look like?

Physical findings of abuse may include bruises, bite marks, burns, fractures,abdominal injuries, and hair loss. Sexual abuse may include lacerations or bruising of the hymen of the vagina and/or the anus.

You may be reluctant to interfere in someone's family , but you can make a huge difference in a child's life if you report the abuse, the earlier reported abuse children get help, the greater chance they have to heal from their abuse and not perpetuate the cycle. You may feel overwhelmed. The best help you can provide is calm, unconditional support and reassurance. The child is looking to you to provide support and help -don't let him or her down.

The primary phase is getting the child and family some help, couseling, anger management and parent training of which can make a tremendous difference in the life of the child's family especially if you can stop the abuse early.

The secondary phase is child protective services, getting the child completely out of danger to stop the abuse early. Stop It Now 1-888- PREVENT (1-888-773-8368) Please inform all children if they don't have a friend or family to turn to they can call child abuse hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD for help, themselves if they feel reluctant to consult with you.The tertiary phase would include education, not learned skills neccessary for good parenting, education can greatly help caregivers who need information on raising children. Children need education as well to help protect for abuse. They need to know that is never their fault and never ok.

References

Clark, M.J. (2008). Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations. (5th Ed.).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall

Note: This blog post reflects the work of Patricia Thomas RN with minor editing by Shirley Comer RN and was completed as a class assignment. The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Before beginning or changing a treatment or lifestyle regime you should consult your primary health care provider.