Healthcare
Discussion Questions
Discuss an Addiction and How the Addiction Affects One’s Life.
An addiction is a chronic relapsing disease of the brain. Addictions are characterized by habitual drug use despite harmful consequences of using the drugs (NIH, 2014). An addiction is a disease of the brain because drugs change a brains structure and how it functions thus creating a habit. Adverse health effects of addictions include: heart attack, heart rate abnormalities, lung cancer, breathing problems and emphysema. An addiction can also lead to adverse behavioral effects because it tends to take over an individuals life. Addictions can lead to irresponsibility, antisocial behavior, substance abuse of other drugs, crime and cause accidents.
Discuss Ways to Reduce Risk from Cardiovascular Disease
One of the best ways to reduce risks from cardiovascular disease is through a healthy diet. The food one eats can reduce other controllable risks such as cholesterol, diabetes, overweight and blood pressure (CDC, n.d.). Nutrient rich foods (vitamins, minerals, fiber, iron and other nutrients lower in calories) are the healthier option than nutrient poor foods. To prevent cardiovascular diseases, one should also maintain a healthy weight by coordinating the diet with exercise. Increased blood cholesterol causes fat to lodge in the arteries and can eventually cause a stroke or heart attack. Cholesterol levels can be reduced by reducing intake of saturated fats and by physical exercises (CDC, n.d.). When a diet and exercise do not work to lower cholesterol levels, then medication is the solution. Physical exercises can help lower blood pressure thus it is important to engage in daily physical activity. To prevent cardiovascular disease, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity increases risks for high blood pressure, insulin resistance and high cholesterol all of which are factors that heighten risk for cardiovascular disease. Consequently, people under stress are at the risk of cardiovascular disease thus to avoid those risks, stress levels must be reduced. Additionally, substance abuse can expose one to cardiovascular diseases. For example, too much consumption of alcohol increases cardiomyopathy, blood pressure and stroke, and also produces irregular heartbeats (CDC, n.d.). On the other hand, smoking or being exposed to smoking exposes patients to heart diseases.
Identify and Describe the Negative Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke Exposure.
Non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke are at a 20% risk of developing cancer of the lungs (HSC, n.d.). The more smoke they inhale, the more they risk being exposed to lung cancer. Even brief exposure to cigarette smoke can damage lung cells in a way that sets the process for lung cancer to develop. Exposure to second hand smoke is responsible for 20-30% of cardiovascular diseases (HSC, n.d). Additionally, secondhand cigarette smoke can cause strokes to non-smokers. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Infants who are exposed to second hand smoke are at a greater risk for SIDS. Lungs of children whose parents smoke grow less than those of children who are not exposed to secondhand smoke. These children get sick often and coughing and wheezing are common among children exposed to second hand smoke.
Describe the Negative Health and Economic Consequences Associated with Personal Use of Tobacco Products.
Health impacts of using tobacco products include: lung cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease, stroke and SIDS (HSC, n.d.). Additionally, tobacco products also have adverse effects on our economies. Businesses lose money when smokers fail to attend work due to smoking related illnesses and also pay more in healthcare to cover smoking employees (IARC, n.d.). Smoking cigarettes is an expensive habit and most smokers spend considerable amounts of money to buy cigarettes everyday. This money that could have productively been used ends up being wasted on a harmful habit. Environmental cleanups resulting from the use of cigarettes are expensive (WHO, 2009). Cigarette remains litter the environment and clog drains and their clean up results in spending of money.
Describe 4 Ways That You Can Take Advantage of the Healthcare System to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Health.
A healthy diet is the corner stone of health. I would take advantage of the health care system by visiting a nutritionist in order to acquire guidance on a healthy diet. I would then implement the healthy diet by eating the recommended food in the recommended amounts. Taking frequent physical exams to ensure I am healthy is another way I would use to take advantage of the healthcare system. Constant physical movement is good for the health and I would ensure to get the best fitness advice from out healthcare system.
3 Strategies That You Can Use to Improve the Environment.
Recycling. By recycling materials, I will prevent wastage of natural resources and also prevent littering of the environment.
Avoid using polythene bags. Polythene bags degrade the environment because they are not biodegradable. While shopping, I will reuse old shopping bags to avoid biodegrading the environment.
Cycling. Cars release green house gases into the atmosphere. Green house gases are responsible for global warming and depletion of the ozone layer. By cycling, I will have contributed to lowering of green house emissions in my ecosystem.
Plan to Stop Eating Junk Foods
Reasons. Junk food has little or no nutritional value. On top of it, junk food increase risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Junk food is also expensive than healthy meals and more addictive. Thus, reducing my junk food intake will benefit my health and reduce my expenses.
Identify needs. There is need for me to cut on junk food as I am adding unnecessary weight. I am currently involved in physical exercises and cutting on the junk foods will compliment my exercising. I will use the money I will save from junk food to buy new clothes. Set goals. Take cereals and milk in the morning instead of potato crisps and substitute fries for more nutritious meals for lunch and diner.
Select activities. Give away all the junk food in my house. I will also gather information about better eating habits to expand on my knowledge on the same.
Plan to take action. My plan to take action will be to stop eating junk foods.
Plan for evaluation.I will use my weight change and the money I will have saved from not buying junk foods as my evaluation criteria. Decreased weight and increased savings will indicate that I have not deviated from the plan.