Weight-loss and Arteriosclerosis
Section 3: The Intervention
Various investigators have indicated a reasonable relationship between weight and numerous heart disorders. The link between obesity and high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus also been shown to increase arteriosclerosis incidence (Wang & Nakayama, 2010). Wang (2010) found that atherosclerosis starts several years before any type of cardiovascular disease has developed. He also discovered that individuals with higher BMI values are more prone to arteriosclerosis than those with average body weight. The adoption of weight loss measures is crucial to decrease obesity-related cases of arteriosclerosis.
Guidelines have disclosed that weight loss can dramatically improve the health outcomes of many disorders linked to obesity (Cefalu et al., 2015). Critically, the impacts of weight reduction are frequently communicated in expanded mortality cases. An on-going examination of 15 investigations found that generally modest quantities of weight reduction led to a 20 percent decrease in death (Beavers et al., 2015). Weight loss has been proven to be beneficial to many cardiovascular risk factors. These include arterial stiffness, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and pro-inflammatory mediators (Lenoir et al., 2015). Significantly, weight reduction was found to diminish the danger of CVD mortality up as long as 23 years after the first weight reduction intercession by 41 percent. Proof, which includes the biological impacts of obesity and the elevated danger of stroke, illustrates that a reduction in body weight could be useful in preventing primary and auxiliary stroke.
Approaches to accomplish weight-loss
Organized support for the diet plays a significant role in effective weight loss. A study conducted on patients reported that 35 percent of participants who received assisted lifestyle support by nursing practitioners reported a weight loss of about 6 percent over three months compared to about 20 percent with daily treatment (Townsend et al., 2009). The specific organized program was administered in a hospital. It included short term and long term goal setting, a healthy meal plan, customized exercise schedule, and guidance on overcoming weight loss obstacles. Information from the National Weight Control Registry, affirms that constant changes in both eating routine and physical movement levels are integral to effective weight loss.
Reasonable weight‐loss goals. In the beginning, an estimation of a patient’s realizable weight loss may be impractical. Due to misinformation from several outlets, including family members, media, and other healthcare providers, it is sometimes challenging to set reasonable weight-loss targets. There should also be short-term and long-term goals for the patient. Each of these goals should be logical and practical for them to attain. The SMART target checklist is an excellent goal-setting strategy. In their research (Fabricatore et al., 2007), it was stated that a more achievable target resulted in a loss of between 6% -12% of the initial body weight. Healthcare professionals should concentrate on open dialogue and applying reasonable weight-loss goals and regularly monitor results in compliance with those targets.
Meal tracking using a diary. The 2014 Report by the Foundation for American Nurse Practitioners finds a meal diary as a useful proof-based dietary tool in achieving weight loss. In a 220 people group, reliable and frequent use of meal diary was majorly linked achievement of weight-loss goals (Middleton et al., 2014). Researches have shown that keeping a food diary helps patients to lose an average of 11 percent of their initial body weight over six months. Hence, regular and sustained food tracking should be used, particularly in any weight-loss program.
Support group systems. Behavioral factors associated with keeping up weight reduction incorporate secure social support groups, limiting junk foods, avoiding excessive eating, accountability for decisions, internal motivation, and self-independence. Nursing practitioners should encourage sentiments of self-worth in individuals, which helps them view weight loss as an achievable goal. Continued support from health care workers will help patients retain the inspiration throughout the lifestyle-changing process. A longitudinal study of 15,000 primary care patients described the frequency of visits as a factor predicting the effectiveness of weight loss programs (Lenoir et al., 2015). Individuals who sustained an average 12 % weight loss over two years had frequent visits of 0.7 times per month compared to those who visited 0.5 visits per month.
Educational and environmental factors. While detailing a weight-reduction plan, it is urgent to comprehend background and culture, as ecological components that should be routed to assist advance weight reduction. A factor such as family ancestry of obesity is strongly related to obesity in adulthood (Rauh Kral &, 2010). Parents build early-food interactions for their children and have a strong influence on the perspectives children have towards various foods through procured dietary patterns and food decisions. Families may likewise confer social inclinations towards junk, less nutritious food, and community factors, for example, nearby accessibility and the expense of healthy food choices, can impact family food decisions.
A balanced home-made food environment will assist individuals with improving their eating routine. A critical factor in children is the presence of vegetables and fruits. For adults, these factors include in-house less healthy food and dependence on fast food. Family mealtimes are closely correlated with improved food intake. A study conducted to promote the consumption of a balanced meal reported a definite decrease in excessive weight gain in prepubescent children (Fruh et al. 2013). Other studies have revealed that many families’ lack of meal planning hinders the consumption of a balanced diet. Meal preparation allows nutritious food to be acquired and prepared early enough and stored for later use, associated with increased vegetable intake and balanced meals compared to impulse-prepared meals.
Section 4: The Impact
An increase in many risk factors and a decrease in the development rate of atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery bulb is expected to introduce weight loss as a potential treatment for obesity (Marino et al., 2009). With a decline in obesity levels, a decrease in the number of cardiovascular deaths in the U.S. is expected. Since arteriosclerosis is responsible for many cardiac disorders, such as heart attacks, stroke, and lung failure, a reduction in obesity cases, is expected to reduce the total cardiovascular deaths in the U.S. considerably.
Cardiovascular diseases affect the community through increased levels of depression, influencing the mental safety of those affected. This effect reduces the community’s overall welfare by making the culture less prosperous and more fragmented in general. The population is expected to have increased public health and satisfaction with the decline in CVD incidents. Cardiovascular diseases can have a significant impact on the structure of the family. The death of a parent or a grandparent often leads to young people living in an incomplete family setting (Marino et al., 2009). This scenario can be challenging in most countries where the conventional family setting is treasured. In many cases, individuals who have lost a family member to CVD are often depressed. The problem of arteriosclerosis on family life is removed with a decrease in these cases, and families can spend time with their loved ones.
Researchers found that CVD has adverse effects on the patient’s mental health. These studies have reported that patients are psychologically affected by scars obtained from surgery, fear of recurrent attacks, phobia to visit the hospital, fear of death, stigmatization, and helplessness. In severe cases, this leads to depression (Marino et al., 2009). A decline in cases would see a reduction in depression cases of patients with CVD. This reduction ultimately leads to better mental health for those surrounding the patient and society at large.
Moreover, CVD is one of the costliest chronic illnesses in our country. In 2014, the most expensive medical conditions were stroke and heart failure according to data obtained from the Medicare fee-for-service program. CVD-related costs include direct medical expenses such as physician consultations, healthcare service, and indirect costs, such as the cost of medication. Loss of productivity at work and home are also indirect costs related to CVD. Such expenses have detrimental economic implications (Gheorghe et al., 2018). In the United States, CDC statistics show that Americans experience 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes per year, contributing more than $320 billion in annual healthcare expenses and lost productivity. It translates into the cost per episode of generic CVD ranging from U.S. dollars 600-1600. Reducing the nation’s cases of CVD will dramatically reduce the cost of medical treatment and unproductivity. This decline is expected to ease the economic burden of arteriosclerosis on families.
References
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