Role of Exercises for Cardiovascular Health - Essay Example

?Review of Literature Myers, J. (2003). Exercise and cardiovascular health. Circulation, 107, e2-e5. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000048890.59383.8D The article talks about the relationship between physical fitness, physical activity, and cardiovascular health. It is suggested that more fit or active individuals are at a lower risk of getting coronary heart disease than inactive individuals. More than 250,000 individuals die every year in the United States due to lack of exercise. Exercise has numerous benefits such as reducing weight and reducing bad cholesterol. However, one question remains unanswered, how much exercise should one do. In the United States, the recommended time for exercise is 30 minutes preferably in all days of the week. Research elements were not used in this article. The article concludes that if done in the right way, physical activity, and physical fitness can assist in the reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and thus, improve the health of the United States. The information in the article is very important since it will assist nurses offer the best care possible such as the recommended time for doing exercise. Lauer, M. S. (2012). And what about exercise? Fitness and risk of death in “low risk” adults. Journal of the American Heart Association, 1, 1-3. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.003228 The article speaks of the controversy about the possible risks of being harmed by exercise. Many researchers have attempted to indicate that exercise can harm individuals. However, the author of the article is quick to note that these guidelines are founded on weak evidence. On the other hand, some researchers have shown that exercise below the recommended time had significant impact on the physical fitness of an individual. Research elements were not used in this article. The article concludes that exercise is important in the reduction of cardiac-related events, and there is need to find better ways of improving public health. The information is important to the nurses in that it will assist them in making the right choice about the care to be given to a patient suffering from cardiac-related complications. The best decision will assist in rapid recovery of the patient. Galan, A. I., Palacios, E., Ruiz, F., Diez, A., Arji, M., Almar, M., Moreno, C., Calvo, J. I., Munoz, M. E., Delgado, M. A., & Jimenez, R. (2006). Exercise, oxidative stress and risk of cardiovascular disease in the elderly: Protective role of antioxidant functional foods. Bio Factors, 27, 167-183. The authors of the article state that exercise is a crucial component in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Exercise is an important element in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases; however, in elderly people, it can enhance oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and vigorous exercise can cause oxidative injury and antioxidant depletion. It is important that balance between beneficial and harmful effects of physical activity to be achieved, particularly, in elderly people. The design of the study was a long-term intervention study, and was conducted as a controlled and randomized investigation based on the practice of nutritional antioxidant treatment and regular exercise. A group of 320 aged individuals was chosen (86 men and 234 women aged between 58 and 86 years old). The results of the research showed that moderate and regular exercise enhances cardiorespiratory function and decreases cardiovascular disease in elderly individuals. This information is important since it will help nurses in caring elderly individuals suffering from the condition and those not suffering from the condition. Li, J., & Siergrist, J. (2012). Physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease – A meta-analysis of perspective cohort studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 9, 391-407. doi: 10.3390/ijerph9020391 The article did a comprehensive analysis of the association between physical activity and cardiovascular disease. From the analysis, it was evident that leisure time and occupational physical activity had positive impact on the individual’s cardiovascular health. Research element used in the analysis was the application of meta-analytic random impact modeling to data collected from prospective group studies. The research results suggest that moderate levels of occupational physical activity and high levels of leisure time physical activity reduces the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. The information is significant to the care of the patient by the nurse since it suggests that exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by a considerable degree (20-30 percent in women and 10-20 percent in men). Amin-Shokravi, F., & Rajabi, R., & Ziaee, N. (2011). Exercise effects on risk of cardiovascular disease among Iranian women. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 2(1), 37-43. The authors suggest that lack of exercise or physical activity is common in women than in men. They further suggest that it varies by age and the ethnic groups. Physical activity is a crucial element in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The research element used was a randomized controlled trail study. Transformations in 10-year risk scores for coronary heart disease were measured using the Framingham risk equation. The research results indicated a significant decrease in diastolic and systolic blood pressure, decrease in lipid levels, and decrease in 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in the training group. There were no changes in the control group. The information is important to the nurses since it will help in knowing which groups are at a risk of cardiovascular disease and take the relevant action. Manson, J. E., Greenland, P., LaCroix, A. Z., Stefanick, M. L., Mouton, C. P., Oberman, A., Perri, M. G., Sheps, D. S., Pettinger, M. B., & Siscovick, D. S. (2002). Walking compared with vigorous exercise for the prevention of cardiovascular events in women. The New England Journal of Medicine, 347(10), 716-725. The article talks of the controversy concerning the role of vigorous exercise and walking in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. This is because general physical activity has been linked with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in epidemiologic surveys. However, among women, the role of walking has been minimally addressed. Another area largely ignored is the function of time spent in inactive behavior in predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease. The research element used in this study was observational study. The research concluded that vigorous exercise and walking were linked with the reduction in cardiovascular disease. The information is important to the nurses since it will help in knowing which groups are at a risk of cardiovascular disease and take the relevant action. Swain, D. P. (2006). Moderate- or vigorous-intensity exercise: What should we prescribe? ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 10(5), 7-11. Vigorous exercise is an important component in the minimization of cardiovascular disease risks. Despite its benefits, vigorous exercise can lead to musculoskeletal complications and overuse injuries. People who do physical activity have lower risks of developing cardiovascular diseases. For better prevention of cardiovascular diseases, suitable intensity ranges for aerobic training should be prescribed. Research elements were not used in this article. The article concludes by suggesting that the correct prescription for exercise intensity with heart rate reserve should be given. This is because the method accounts for the variations in resting heart rate between clients or patients. The article is important for the nurses since it offers them a guideline on the exercise prescriptions given to the patient. Ha, T., Lee, I., Paffenbarger, R. S., Sesso, H. D. (1999). Physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in middle-aged and older women. American Journal of Epidemiology, 150(4), 408-416. In this article, the relationship between cardiovascular disease and physical activity (or exercise) in women was investigated, particularly women in their middle and late ages. For many years, the relation being investigated has never been clear. This is due to the fact that inconsistent results have emerged from studies that involved women. Walking for long distances was found to be beneficial for women, particularly in the reduction of cardiovascular disease risks. The research method used was a group or cohort study of women. The research results showed no link of physical activity with cardiovascular activity in women who walked for small distances (less than 4 blocks in a day). However, for those who walked for long distances (more than 10 blocks), physical activity was linked with 33 percent reduced risk. Thus, the nurses will be able to advice women on the best exercise to reduce the risk of the disease. Manson, J. E., Hu, F. B., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Colditz, G. A., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., Speizer, F. E., & Hennekens, C. H. (1999). A prospective study of walking as compared with vigorous exercise in the prevention of coronary heart disease in women. The New England Journal of Medicine, 341(9), 650-658. The article talks about the controversy concerning which type of exercise (vigorous exercise or walking) is better in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The authors note that the data for women in this aspect is very sparse. It is estimated that close to 60% of Americans do not exercise. Lack of exercise is attributed to high mortality rates caused by conditions such as cardiovascular complications and cancer. Vigorous exercise and walking are both linked with decrease in cardiovascular activities. Questionnaires and follow-up questionnaires were used to study the participants. The authors concluded that vigorous exercise and brisk walking are linked to similar and substantial reductions in risks of cardiovascular events among women. The information will be crucial for the nurses since it will assist them in initiating the best care for the patient. Hambrecht, R., Wolf, A., Gielen, S., Linke, A., Hofer, J., Erbs, S., Schoene, N., & Schuler, G. (2000). Effect of exercise on coronary endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 342, 454-460. Researches done have yielded contradictory results in regard to the cardio protective impacts of exercise training in clients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. For many years, exercise training has been linked to enhancement in myocardial perfusion and in patients having progression of coronary atherosclerosis. The authors performed a prospective study of the impact of exercise training on endothelial role in patients with cardiovascular disease. The research results showed that exercise training resulted in significant increase in coronary blood-flow velocity. The exercise also resulted in significant increase in dilation that was flow-dependent. This information is very crucial to the nurses since it will help them in caring for patients with myocardial perfusion and coronary atherosclerosis. Tanasescu, M., Leitzmann, M. F., Rimm, E. B., Willett, W. C., Stampfer, M. J., & Hu, F. B. (2002). Exercise type and intensity in relation to coronary heart disease in men. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(16), 1994-2000. A number of studies have revealed an inverse association between risk of coronary heart disease and physical activity. They have shown that inactive individuals are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disorders than individuals who exercise. However, one thing is not clear, the suitable level of exercise for the prevention of cardiovascular events. A group of 44, 452 United States men enrolled in Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study were assessed for two years for the possibilities of cardiovascular factors, evaluate the levels of leisure-time exercise, and recognize newly diagnosed cases of the condition. The results of the research indicated that running, walking, weight training, and total physical activity were linked with decreased cardiovascular risk. The information is important for the nurse in determining the optimal level of exercise required for the patient to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Lee, I., Paffenbarger, R. S., & Sesso, H. D. (2000). Physical activity and coronary heart disease risk in men: Does the duration of exercise episodes predict risk? Circulation, 102, 981-986. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.102.9.981 Physical activity has been linked with reduced risk of cardiovascular complications. Despite the benefits of physical activity, it is not clear if the duration of exercise events is crucial. Statistics show that nearly 60% of the Americans are physically inactive and close to 25% are not active at all. One question still remains unanswered; whether shorter sessions are as important as longer sessions of exercise in predicting risk of cardiovascular complications. The design of the study was based on a baseline survey done from 1988 to 1993. The results clearly showed that physical activity is linked with reduced cardiovascular risk. The results also supported recommendations that permit the combination of shorter episodes of physical activity. The information is important to the nurses since it allows them to apply new recommendations, which can be very beneficial to the patient. Lee, I., Paffenbarger, R. S. & Sesso, H. D. (2000). Physical activity and coronary heart disease in men: The Harvard Alumni health study. Circulation, 102, 975-980. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.102.9.975 The article attempts to explain the amount of time and effort required in an exercise to prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because it is not clear the intensity and amount of physical activity needed for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that approximately 60% of the Americans do not exercise, in other words, they are physically inactive. The research design used was a follow-up survey of 12, 516 men (aged between 39 and 88 years) from the year 1977 to 1993. The authors found out that vigorous activities and total physical activity indicated the strongest decrease in cardiovascular risk. Light and moderate activities did not show any significant inverse association. The information is important to the nurses since it will help in knowing which groups are at a risk of cardiovascular disease and take the relevant action. Kraus, W. E., Houmard, J. A., Duscha, B. D., Knetzger, K. J., Wharton, M. B., McCartney, J. S., Bales, C. W., Henes, S., Samsa, G. P., Otvos, J. D., Kulkarni, K. R., & Slentz, C. A. (2002). The New England Journal of Medicine, 347(19), 1483-1492. Increased physical activity is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because it results in the improvement of the lipoprotein profile. It is important to note that the quantity and intensity of physical activity training needed for optimal benefit is not known. The research element used was random assigning of the participants to take part in a six months control group or eight months in three different exercise groups. The results of the research indicated that high amount of high-intensity exercise led to greater improvements. The lower-amount exercise group had a better response than the control group. From this information, nurses can know the best way of reducing the risk of cardiovascular exercise. Lee, I., Rexrode, K. M., Cook, N. R., Manson, J. E., & Buring, J. E. (2001). Physical activity and coronary heart disease in women: Is “no pain, no gain” passe? The Journal of the American Medical Association, 285(11), 1447-1454. The objective of the research was to assess the association between physical activity (in particular, light-to-moderate walking) and cardiovascular disease among women (women who are at a risk of developing cardiovascular disease are also included). Women, who are physically active, tend to have lower rates of coronary heart disease than those who are inactive. However, something is not very clear, if the association varies in women at high risk of developing the condition or by intensity of physical activity. The research design was based on a follow-up research done on 39, 372 female participants done between 1992 and 1995. The research results indicated that light-to-moderate activity was associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease in women. The information is important for the nurse in determining the optimal level of exercise required for the patient to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Incorporating a Theory The theory to be incorporated in this case is the theory of goal attainment. The theory gives insight into the interaction between the nurse and the client and the outcomes or results of the care. It highlights the significance of the patient’s participation in decision that affects care and focuses on the outcome of the care and the process of nurse-client interaction. Evaluation happens during the process of interaction. The patient brings knowledge about self and perception of the problems at hand and the nurse brings special skills and knowledge to this interaction. Communication is needed to ascertain the accuracy of perception, for transaction and interaction. In other words, the theory is applied based on the needs of the patients, and resolve the recognized problems of the patient (currentnursing.com, 2012). In the process of caring for a patient, there is important information that the nurse and the patient are required to provide for optimal result. In the case of cardiovascular disease, exercise has been regarded as the best method for preventing the risk of the condition. However, the recommended time for exercise is not clear. Thus, the interaction between the patient and the nurse is crucial in determining this optimal level of exercise for the prevention of the condition. As indicated in the theory, the nurse will offer his or her special skills and knowledge and the patient will offer his idea of the problems at hand and knowledge about self. The proposed solution, to make sure that the individual receives optimal exercise depending on the severity of the problem, age, and gender, will be accomplished based on the theory proposed. References currentnursing.com. (2012). Application of theory of goal attainment. Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/application_goal_attainment_theory.html Read More