People who exercise regularly could reduce their risk of developing hypertension and diabetes and slow down how quickly their body deteriorates as they age. Hypertension is characterized by persistently high blood pressure in the systemic arteries (Oparil et al., 2018). Blood pressure is expressed in two categories. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure that the blood exerts on the arterial wall when the heart contracts and the diastolic blood pressure when the heart relaxes. A person is considered hypertensive when the systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140 and diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90 (Oparil et al., 2018).
According to Klarroubi&Darwish (2015), diabetes mellitus is defined as “a group of metabolic diseases characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.” There are different classes of diabetes mellitus. Type I diabetes also called juvenile diabetes; it is autoimmune due to destruction of the b cells of the pancreas, characterized by the absence of insulin secretion and is more dominant in children and adolescents (Klarroubi&Darwish, 2015). Type II diabetes commonly seen in adults, gestational diabetes in pregnant women, and other types. Fasting plasma glucose of greater than or equal to 126mg/dL. (7.0 mmol/L, plasma glucose after 2-h OGTT greater than or equal to 200mg/dL (11.1mmol/L), HgbA1C greater than or equal to 6.5%, or a random plasma glucose greater than or equal to 200 along with symptoms of hyperglycemia is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus (Klarroubi&Darwish, 2015).
Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. According to Ostchega et al., 2020, the risk for hypertension increases with age: 22.4% (aged 18-39), 54.5% (40-59) and 74.5% (60 and over). Hypertension prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic black 57.1% than non-Hispanic white 43.6%, and Hispanic 43.7%. The prevalence of age adjusted hypertension was 45.4% among adults and was higher among men (51.0) than women (39.7%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Diabetes represents a burden to modern societies. According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020, 34.2 million people of all ages which represent 10.5% of the US population had diabetes; 34.1 million adults aged 18 or older (13.0%) of all US adults had diabetes; 7.3 million adults aged 18 or older met laboratory criteria but did not aware they had diabetes. Among adults aged 65 and older the percentage increased to 26.8%.
Health promotion and education is critical for patients diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage hypertension and diabetes. As a nurse, I will educate my patient on the importance of being active to prevent adverse consequences from hypertension and diabetes such as stroke with paralysis or other coronary artery diseases which can cause morbidity or even death. Therefore, I will educate my patient of the benefits of walking, swimming, hiking, and dancing etc. According to World Health Organization (2020), adults aged 18-64 years old should do at least 150-300 minutes of moderate- intensity of aerobic physical activity; or at least 75-150 minutes of vigorous – intensity aerobic physical activity. Physical exercise is the most effective methods to help prevent and manage hypertension and diabetes (Patel et al., 2017).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020). National diabetes statistics report, 2020. www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-stat-report.html
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