Assignment task: Respond to two peers with APA format and 2 references each
Peer 1:
Hypertension in Women's Health:
First, I will explain what hypertension is. Hypertension is also known as having high blood pressure. It happens when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high. Your blood pressure measurement measures how much blood passes through your blood vessels and the amount of resistance the blood meets while the heart is pumping. Elevated blood pressure is essential to monitor and treat, if necessary, as it can lead to serious health complications. It is crucial to educate your patients with high blood pressure that they may not experience symptoms until their blood pressure has caused severe health issues (Rishe, 2023).
Furthermore, in women's health, it is crucial to note that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in women. Premenopausal women have a lower risk and incidence of hypertension. However, once women have gone through menopause, it is said that there are no longer as many natural estrogens and natural progesterone that protect the vasculature from oxidative and inflammatory injury, no longer helping to prevent cardiovascular disease (Gudmundsdottir et al., 2021).
We must assess the risk factors as well as address the common symptoms of hypertension in women. The specific risk factors in women that may contribute to hypertension leading to CVD include preeclampsia, as it has been shown to increase the risk for future hypertension. Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis have been associated with increased risk, as well as obesity and poor diet. Common symptoms of HTN in women include dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, nosebleeds, and fatigue (Weber, 2023).
Diagnosing hypertension can take some time as it is not something that has just one test to be run. It can be as simple as checking the blood pressure, but for it to be diagnosed, the blood pressure must be read on three separate occasions over the course of three weeks. Your doctor needs to see evidence of a sustained problem. That is because your environment can contribute to increased blood pressure. Other testing, such as labs, may be performed to help the provider identify any secondary issues causing an elevated blood pressure. Those tests may include cholesterol testing, an electrocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart and/or kidneys, and at-home blood pressure monitoring (Rishe, 2023).
There can be a variety of ways to treat hypertension. It is all based on severity and how a patient responds to treatment. There are two types of ways they treat pertaining to which the patient is diagnosed, which are primary, meaning they would start treating with lifestyle changes. Those changes include a DASH diet, weight loss, reduced stress, and getting substantial sleep. The second type is secondary hypertension, which you should treat with medication as it usually has a secondary cause. The typical starting medication is a diuretic, commonly Hydrochlorothiazide. Then, if that does not reduce the blood pressure to a therapeutic range, typically, an ace inhibitor will be added, such as a low dose of lisinopril (Hedge & Ahmed, 2023).
Peer 2 -lynn
Osteoporosis affects over half of adults worldwide over the age of 50. There are effective therapies, but unfortunately there are many undiagnosed and untreated people. There are Models of Care (MoC) to improve outcomes such as fracture liaison services, screening, education and exercise programs (Morin et al., 2023).. The following will provide more information on primary prevention for osteoporosis and education on treatment options.
Lifestyle Modifications:
o Diet: To optimize bone health you need to get enough protein and calories as well as an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. Calcium: 1,000-1200mg/day through dietary products, green leafy vegetables or supplements. Vitamin D 600-800 IU/day through sunlight, diet, or supplements (Keen &Reddivari, 2023)
o Exercise: Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises help improve bone density and balance, reducing fall risk. Furthermore, can improve balance therefore, decreasing falls that may load to fractures. It is recommended to exercise at least 30 minutes, three times per week through things like resistance training, jogging, jumping, and walking (Keen &Reddivari, 2023)
o Avoiding Smoking and Excessive Alcohol: Both are risk factors for bone loss and should be minimized (Keen &Reddivari, 2023).
Weight: maintain a healthy weight, both underweight and obesity can affect bone health
Education:
Osteoporosis is also known as the silent disease because it progresses without symptoms until a fracture develops. Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder caused by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue causing bone fragility and increases risks for fractures (Jo et al., 2018).
- Risk factors for osteoporosis: women over 50, menopause due to decrease estrogen levels, family history of osteoporosis, low vitamin D and calcium in your diet, smoking and drinking (Keen &Reddivari, 2023)
- Implementing safety measures at home to prevent falls, such as using non-slip mats and installing grab bars (Keen &Reddivari, 2023).
- Ensure adequate lighting inside and outside of the house to prevent falls
- Avoid walking in slick, wet, or icy surfaces to prevent falls
- Do not walk in unfamiliar areas outside
- Have your vision checked yearly
- Regular follow-up with healthcare providers to monitor bone density and adjust treatments as necessary (DEXA scans) (Keen & Reddivari, 2023).