...The two diets that I am comparing is the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet because these two diets are ranked the top 2 “Best Diets overall.” I am interested in the effectiveness of the two diets and how difficult it is to maintain these diets. The DASH diet, which is ranked number one in the categories of Best Diets Overall, Best Diabetes Diets, Best Diets for Healthy Eating, and Best Heart-Healthy Diets, aims to prevent and lower high blood pressure by revolving around a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables and lean meat. To add on, exercising regularly will result in losing weight as well, although it is not required to exercise when following the Dash diet. The Mediterranean Diet, which is ranked number two in Best Diets Overall,...
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...Sidani, 2011). This makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the vessels thus puts the senior individuals at risk of getting hypertension (high blood pressure), cardio vascular disease and other cardio vascular problems (Morelli & Sidani, 2011). However, there is evidence that eating a balanced diet along with safe physical activity makes great strides in reducing such adverse effects of aging and helps senior individuals live longer. This paper explores the molecular mechanisms of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan that is said to have the effect of lowering blood pressure in seniors and thus reduce their chances of getting hypertension. Overview of the DASH Eating Plan The link for the eating plan is http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/dash. The eating plan focuses on increasing intake of vegetables, fruits, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. This is because they are high in fiber and low in fat so as to limit the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Foods in the realm of whole grains, fish, poultry, vegetable oils, and beans, seeds, and nuts are also included in the eating plan due to their contribution to a balanced diet. Also, they have certain components that have proved essential for the reduction and prevention of hypertension in people above the age...
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...one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Nearly one-sixth of children are obese. These increasing rates of obesity are also paralleled by increasing rates of hypertension and diabetes as well. It seems logical that these increasing rates will also affect kidney disease. Our study was designed to look at young adults aged 18 to 30 years, from the CARDIA [Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults] study.[2] The CARDIA study is a longitudinal study. It started in 1985-1986, looking at young adults who were free of diseases. Essentially, they have had up to 25 years of follow-up at this point. In this cohort, we decided to look at lifestyle behaviors and the risk for incident chronic kidney disease. The lifestyle behaviors that we examined were smoking, obesity, diet, and physical activity. We created a diet score using methods similar to those that other researchers have used based on the DASH [Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension] diet. This diet was used in the DASH study and was able to reduce blood pressure in both normotensive people and people with hypertension. This diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts, low fat dairy, and whole grains, and minimizes sugar sweetened beverages, salts, and red meat. In our study, we found that the individuals who consumed a healthier diet had lower risk for kidney disease than the individuals who had a...
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...Sara Terry Nutrition Diet Paper High blood pressure, hypertension, effects more than 65 million people, or 1 out of every3 people. Another 59 million people are have hypertension which is a slight increase in blood pressure which can lead to serious health problems (Nhibi.nih.gov, 2013). High blood pressure is dangerous because it can harden artery walls, make the heart pump harder and can cause the brain to hemorrhage. If not controlled, the consequences of living a life with high blood pressure can lead to heart and kidney disease, stroke and blindness. The DASH diet is often suggested to people suffering from hypertension and focuses on portion size, eating a variety of foods and getting the right amount of nutrients (Mayoclinic.org, 2013). DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH eating plan has no special foods and hard to follow recipes. The diet follows out a simple daily servings table that is easy to follow. DASH diet is well known and encourages a reduction in sodium intake in a person’s diet and eat foods rich in nutrients that help lower blood pressure such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. The diet is in line with Dietary Recommendations to prevent osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke and diabetes (Mayoclinic.org, 2013). Vegetables, fruit, low-fat dairy with moderate amounts of whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts are the consistency of the diet. This diet is not geared to be a weight loss program, but a healthier way...
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...Stroke is caused by a blockage or rupture of one of the blood vessels supplying the brain. When this occurs, the region of the brain depending on that artery for oxygen and nutrients cannot function. As a result, the movement, speech, or other body functions controlled by that part of the brain suddenly stop (Thompson, J., Manore, M., & Vaughan, L., 2014). There are both non modifiable risk factors for stroke and modifiable. Non modifiable risk factors cannot be changed and these include, age, male gender, and family history. Modifiable risk factors means that they are at least partly within your control. These include but are not limited to; obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, inflammation, cholesterol. A good start in the prevention of a future stroke is by increasing the intake of healthy foods and decreasing the intake of unhealthy foods that are high in sodium or cholesterol. It is always a good idea to increase the HDL, as this is the good cholesterol and actually helps pick up the cholesterol from dying cells, other lipoproteins, and arterial plaques. This cholesterol is then returned to the liver, where it can be recycled or eliminated from the body through bile (Thompson, J., Manore, M., & Vaughan, L., 2014). The opposite should be done with the LDLs. Decreasing foods that are high in trans-fat or saturated fat will help lower the LDLs. LDLs are rich in cholesterol, which they deliver to body cells. It is therefore important...
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...throughout the day. We are unable to control some of the factors that increase the risk of developing high blood pressure like being African American, over the age of 35, family history of high blood pressure, or having diabetes, gout or kidney disease, but the good news is that there are some that we can change”!(mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/blood_pressure_factors.html). In order to maintain a good blood pressure I should have an exercise plan that involves my cardiovascular, I need to exercise at least 2.5 hours a week. These exercises include cycling, walking, and swimming. Also I may want to talk with my doctor to make sure my body is healthy before I start my exercise program. Nutrition is very important in helping to control my blood pressure and helping with not getting this because I have a family history. The way I need to do this is eating well balanced meals. Here is a way to do this. “The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is recommended if your blood pressure is high or if you are at risk for high blood pressure. DASH is a combination diet that is low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables. It is low in cholesterol and saturated fat, high in dietary fiber, potassium, calcium and magnesium and moderately high in protein. DASH includes more than eight servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Fruits and vegetables that are particularly high in potassium and magnesium are recommended including: *...
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...Evidence Based Nutrition Principles For Diabetes Mellitus Management Evidence Based Nutrition for Diabetes Mellitus Management Dietary management in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and those at risk for DM requires greater attention especially given current trends that suggest 1 in 3 people will have diabetes by 2050 (Benson et. Al., 2011). Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90-95% of diagnosed cases, and the underlying metabolic problem that insinuates this disease is obesity (Vojta, De Sa, & Prospect, 2012). Obesity is accountable for the increase in insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 DM across all ages (Reisin, 2010). If left untreated and unmanaged, DM can potentiate nerve and blood vessel damage with eventual blindness, kidney damage, limb amputations, and cardiovascular complications leading to stroke and heart attack (2012). Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) can assist people to combat obesity, the major catalyst of this disease, in order to prevent diabetes, manage existing diabetes, and slow the onset of diabetes-related complications (Morris & Wylie, 2010). Since a major component of MNT is dietary management, extensive research has been conducted on what dietary guidelines assist in preventing the onset of DM 2 and in controlling existing DM 1 and 2. Before the discovery of insulin in 1922, low-carbohydrate diets were used as a sole means of controlling DM (Spritzler, 2012). Today, this method of control is still implemented; however...
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...Possible Preventions ( First source) Below is exact words from web site that I think is useful! http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease-prevention/WO00041 Don't smoke or use tobaccoSmoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack. When it comes to heart disease prevention, no amount of smoking is safe. Smokeless tobacco and low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes also are risky, as is exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, the nicotine in cigarette smoke makes your heart work harder by narrowing your blood vessels and increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke replaces some of the oxygen in your blood. This increases your blood pressure by forcing your heart to work harder to supply enough oxygen. Even so-called "social smoking" — smoking only while at a bar or restaurant with friends — is dangerous and increases the risk of heart disease. Women who smoke and take birth control pills are at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke than are those who don't do either. This risk increases with age, especially in women older than 35. The good news, though, is that when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops dramatically within just one year. And no matter how long or how much you smoked...
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...Modified Calcium and Potassium Diets Morgan Tilley West Coast University NURS211L The mineral that is the most plentiful in the body is calcium. It is mainly found in bones and teeth but also in plasma and other fluids within the body. Calcium plays an important role in blood clotting, nerve transmission, muscle contraction and relaxation, cell membrane permeability and the activation of certain enzymes, along with protecting against colorectal cancer. The intake of calcium or dairy products is associated with lower blood pressures, controlling body weight and obesity. Potassium in the human body is largely located in the cells as the major cation of the intracellular fluid. There is also a small amount of potassium in the extracellular fluid where its function is to maintain fluid balance, maintain acid-base balance, transmit nerve impulses, catalyze metabolic reactions, aid in carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis, and control skeletal muscle contractility. When potassium is not excreted properly, such as diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, end-stage renal disease, severe heart failure and adrenal insufficiency, high potassium levels can then lead to hyperkalemia and other life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the arteries have persistently elevated blood pressure. It can lead to damaged organs, as well as several illnesses such as renal failure, an aneurysm, heart failure, stroke...
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...certainly the highest concern in regards to Mrs. X’s current symptoms and health. The high-risk waist circumference for women is noted to be any size in excess of 35 inches. A high waist circumference is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and CVD in patients with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. Being that Mrs. X’s BMI is calculated to be 28.4 kg/m2 she is at even greater risk. 2. The risk factor age for women is typically set for greater than or equal to 55 years of age, but postmenopausal women are also considered to be at risk. Therefore, Mrs. X could still possibly fall under this risk factor category as well. 3. Blood pressure measured at 135/85 mmHg with normal blood test otherwise. This indicates that while not yet hypertensive, her BP reading is consistent with prehypertension and should be monitored regularly should she not improve with lifestyle modification. 4. While I am noting sedentary lifestyle at the bottom of this list it is not any less important then the other risk factors listed above. Physical inactivity is known to be an independent risk factor that deserves its own special consideration. Physical inactivity can be related to increased CVD and type 2 diabetes as well as elevated cholesterol and blood pressure. What makes the physical inactivity risk factor so special is that the patient has the power to control the amount of it that impacts their everyday health. Section 2. Outline a plan of lifestyle...
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...throughout the day. We are unable to control some of the factors that increase the risk of developing high blood pressure like being African American, over the age of 35, family history of high blood pressure, or having diabetes, gout or kidney disease, but the good news is that there are some that we can change”!(mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/blood_pressure_factors.html). In order to maintain a good blood pressure I should have an exercise plan that involves my cardiovascular, I need to exercise at least 2.5 hours a week. These exercises include cycling, walking, and swimming. Also I may want to talk with my doctor to make sure my body is healthy before I start my exercise program. Nutrition is very important in helping to control my blood pressure and helping with not getting this because I have a family history. The way I need to do this is eating well balanced meals. Here is a way to do this. “The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is recommended if your blood pressure is high or if you are at risk for high blood pressure. DASH is a combination diet that is low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables. It is low in cholesterol and saturated fat, high in dietary fiber, potassium, calcium and magnesium and moderately high in protein. DASH includes more than eight servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Fruits and vegetables that are particularly high in potassium and...
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...Heart Disease among African American Women Ciatta Jones, RN Excelsior College Abstract Heart Disease remains the number one killer among women. However, African American women have a higher rate of heart disease than any other ethnic group or demographics and subsequently have an increased mortality rate among other nationalities. They are disproportionately outnumbered when it comes to the obesity rate, stroke and diabetes amongst other groups such as the Caucasians and Asian’s. Contributing factors are decreased awareness and knowledge of heart disease, a low self perception regarding risk factors, ongoing behaviors that are not modified such as smoking, alcoholism, eating fried and salty foods and sometimes the inability to get to medical facilities and clinics. With more education about heart disease and an increased perception of risk, people’s minds will become transformed and will be motivated to modify risk factors related to heart disease. Differences in knowledge and comprehension levels are greater amid those that have a higher educational level. Continual health promotions, fairs, seminars and preventative efforts must continue for us to see positive outcomes associated with a desired behavior change. Keywords: African American, heart disease, women, risk factors, education Heart disease among African American Women The death threat of heart disease is greater than that of AIDS and breast cancer collectively. It is the number one killer of women...
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...Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are prevalent diseases in our country at this time. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country, followed closely by cancer.1 Diabetes is on the list as well as the seventh leading cause of death in America.1 While many people are aware of the relationship between heart disease and diabetes, not as many people are aware that diabetes and heart disease can increase a person’s risk for cancer. Risk factors and symptoms associated with the diseases decrease a person’s overall health, and therefore puts them at risk for many more diseases. The connection between cancer, diabetes, and heart disease is through several underlying factors.2Some of these factors being,...
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...Make room for Cheese! The media article I chose to write about is called Make Room For Cheese- If Incorporated Wisely, It Can Be Part of a Healthful Diet, written by Diane Welland. I chose to write about this article because I love cheese and can eat with almost anything like most Americans do. Cheese can be healthful and provide Calcium if consumed adequately. However, it can at times, if consumed in high amounts, be detrimental to our daily diets. That is why this article explains to us the right portions of different types of cheeses we can consume. Cheese contains a good source of protein, is high in Calcium, and sodium as well. It is especially helpful for vegetarians so that they can meet their protein goal in order to be healthy. Unfortunately, here in America, we have a tendency to consume cheese in high amounts. A study showed that the cheese consumption in the U.S. in 2009 was 33 lbs. per capita which has tripled since 1970. And since it is high in calories and saturated fats, it can perhaps be more harmful to out bodies if consumed too much on a daily basis. Sodium in cheese comes from two places, which is the one that naturally presents itself in milk or the salt added during the cheese-making process. If people are concerned about the amount of sodium in their cheeses then they should know that some contain more sodium than others. For example, feta cheese has 317 mg of sodium per ounce while Swiss cheese only has 54 mg of sodium per ounce. Most natural cheeses...
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...Case Study Two: HTN, CKD, & Hypothyroidism Managing Co-Morbidities in Primary Care Primary care providers treat many patients with co-morbidities. It is important for primary care providers to utilize the most current evidence-based research and guidelines to treat and manage patients with co-morbidities in order to reduce risk factors and improve overall health. The following case study will be utilized to apply current guidelines for the treatment and management of hypertension (HTN), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypothyroidism including patient education, monitoring, and clinical end points. Case Study A 45 year old African American male returns for a six month follow-up for blood pressure (BP) control. The patient complains of on-going symptoms over the past few months of dry cough, sleep disturbances, fatigue, constipation, weight gain, and dry skin. The patient denies pain, shortness of breath, edema, or sputum production. Pulse is 80 and regular, BP is 148/110, and BMI is 28. He is six feet tall and weighs 205 pounds. Labs reveal TSH of 5.2, free T4 of 0.8, free T3 1.8, Creatinine 2.1, BUN 22. Family history includes stroke, heart attack, and high cholesterol. Current medications are daily multivitamin, Lisinopril 10 mg once daily, over-the-counter (OTC) Robitussin, and OTC laxative as needed (University of Phoenix, 2014, Week Seven Case Study). The patient can be diagnosed with uncontrolled HTN, subclinical hypothyroidism, and may have chronic kidney...
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