Number 1 post: EW
Number 1 post: EW
It is well known in medical literature that obesity causes many other health issues to develop and leads to overall poor general health status. Obesity is especially related to development of type two diabetes, which is a largely preventable health condition that afflicts millions of Americans. People who are obese account for over 80% of cases of type two diabetes and obese people are 80 times more likely to eventually develop type two diabetes (Diabetes.co.uk, 2019). According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODHP), about 39% of the population of America is obese which is part of the reason that this country has such high numbers of cases of diabetes diagnosed every year (2021). As a future nurse practitioner, my goal will be to keep my patients healthy and help them take control of their health. Obesity often leads to the development of type two diabetes, and because diabetes is such a common condition people do not often realize that it can be deadly. It is especially deadly in conjunction with other common chronic conditions arising from poor nutritional status such as hypertension. Unfortunately people often do not care about developing diabetes unless they realize how it could severely impact their life, so it would be important to me to educate my patients about the end stages of diabetes. As healthcare providers we know that patients with severe diabetes often end up with kidney failure on dialysis and even lose feet and legs because of poor blood circulation, but the general public is not aware of this. After educating my patients about how bad diabetes really is, I would educate them about nutritious health options and how to read nutrition labels and avoid large amounts of added sugars in their diet. Added sugars contribute to belly fat which also increases a person’s risk of developing type two diabetes (Diabetes.co.uk, 2019). It is important that providers give their patients the tools and education they need to make smart nutritional decisions.
Number 2 post: CF
Osteoporosis is a major health concern, particularly among the elderly. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among adults over the age of 65 (HealthyPeople.gov, n.d.). Osteoporosis is defined as a systematic skeletal disease characterized by bone mass density (BMD) loss and damage to the microstructure of bone tissue, resulting in increased bone vulnerability and fracture risk (HealthyPeople.gov, n.d.). One of the most important factors influencing bone density is personal lifestyle, and can be affected by exercise, nutrition, smoking, which is correctable. According to various studies, good nutrition plays an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis, with calcium and vitamin D being the most important supplements (Hejazi et al., 2020). Calcium is without a doubt the most important nutrient for bone health. Because calcium levels are directly related to BMD and bone health, calcium plays an important role in osteoporosis prevention (Hejazi et al., 2020).
As the APN for these patients that are at risk for osteoporosis, it is important to properly screen for osteoporosis to help prevent bone fractures. The recommendation set forth by the US Preventative Task Force is to screen for osteoporosis with bone measurement for all women over the age of 65 (2021). Women under 65 should be screened with bone measurement as well if they are at high risk for osteoporosis (2021). Along with screening, nutritional education should be given to the patient to help prevent osteoporosis. For all female patients up to age 50, it is recommended that they get 1,000 mg of calcium in their diet from food and/or supplements and 600 IU of vitamin D, after age 50 the amount increases to 1200 mg of calcium per day, with 800 IU of vitamin D (2020). Other important micronutrients for bone health, such as magnesium, vitamin K, and potassium, can be obtained through a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables (at least five servings per day). In addition to diet, a healthy lifestyle that includes adequate physical activity and avoids high-risk behaviors (e.g., excessive use of tobacco and alcohol) can ensure bone health (Hejazi et al., 2020).
