Study Guide Question #11

Be able to identify preventable measures and positive health practices. Know what behaviors contribute to cardiac diseases.

The risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease:
Unmodifiable: age, gender, ethnicity and genetic inheritance

Modifiable: elevated serum lipids, hypertension, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, stress in daily living, control of diabetes

Positive health practices:

Reduce cholesterol to under 200 mg/dl or triglyceride levels to less than 200 mg/dl by reducing intake of ETOH, losing weight (if obese or overweight), exercise and reduce fat in your diet.
Reduce hypertension to levels under 140/90 or lower.
QUIT SMOKING!!
EXERCISE at least 3omins/3xweek causing qerspiration and increasing your heart rate by 30-50bpm
Control diabetes.
Reduce life stressors/control anger and hostility (Type A behaviors)

In nursing ID high-risk persons by assessing:
personal/family health hx
eating habits
type of diet
level of exercise
smoking habits
ETOH ingestion
Type A behaviors
recent life-stressing events
sleeping habits
presence of anxiety/depression
place/type of work
exposure to pollutants, allergens or noxious chemicals
degree of emotional stress associated with employment

Encourage good diet, exercise, stress reduction, quitting smoking, and control of other risk factors (life-style modifications) in pts with behaviors that contribute to cardiac diseases.

Also see p. 805, Table 33-3

If anyone can think of more to add, a different or better answer please post it!! Thanks, Debbie