WCU Obesity and Cause of Death Globally Discussion Replies

NURS 530 Week 5 Discussion Responses

Maria Sanchez

“Obesity is the leading fifth cause of death globally and accounts for high healthcare cost worldwide. Three leading causes of death in the United States are associated with obesity: cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer” (Roger, 2022, p. 724). Obesity is linked to many health conditions. It is also one of the most preventable ones. Risk factors can be genetically predisposed, environmental, behavior, socioeconomic, psychological, and poor diet, sedentary lifestyle. Obesity is classified in adults if they have a BMI greater than 30k/m2 (Rogers, 2022, p. 724). When there is excess fat, it is stored in adipocytes where they are stored. They undergo hypertrophy, adipogenesis, store triglycerol, and secrete adipokines. The adipokines will then circulate in the blood that can increase or decrease based on body fat mass and will signal the central nervous system to regulate hunger and energy balance. If there is a dysregulation it will dysregulate this system (Rogers, 2022, p. 726). “Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose cells that help regulate appetite, energy expenditure, hepatic gluconeogenesis, insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid metabolism in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. Peripheral leptin resistance results in hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia. Chronic hyperlipidemia stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, and ventricular hypertrophy and contributes to the pathogenesis to hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer associated with obesity” (Rogers, 2022, p. 726). Excess weight puts pressure on the body leading to sleep apnea. The person that is obese has difficulty with sleeping flat on their back reducing their airway. Obesity is known to limit physical activities, reduce life expectancy, poor quality of life, health conditions, confidence, poor body image, fatigue, and socio-emotional interactions.

There are various ways of managing obesity. Management of obesity can include healthier diet, exercise, and managing psychological disorders. There is specialist that can be consulted such as nutritionist, dietician, and psychologists. Obese people suffering from sleep apnea can use CPAP machines used to provide positive airflow. They can also use other options such as changing position, using a different pillow, and managing weight. Another option is bariatric surgical procedures. “Bariatric surgical procedures offer the most significant reduction in weight, reduction in comorbidities, and decrease in insulin resistance for the treatment of obesity” (Rogers, 2022, p. 729). Reduction in body fat and mass can improve one’s life in many ways. It can help reduce many health conditions that are preventable.

Khrystene Nguyen

Working in public health, specifically with the adolescent population, I come across sexually transmitted diseases often. I can definitely see the challenges that nurse practitioners and providers encounter, especially if the individual is asymptomatic or there is delayed presentation. One of the challenges that I have experienced is patients lack awareness and realization that they can transmit STDs without symptoms (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021). Most individuals are also asymptomatic which discourages diagnostic testing or protection. In addition, there is a negative stigma that comes with STDs and I notice the adolescent population seems to prefer not knowing about their sexual health status, which can lead to a reluctance to undergo STD testing (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021). At the end of the day, it is important to stress patient education. Providing comprehensive sex education and counseling to patients such as explaining the risks of unprotected sex, discussing the importance of regular STD testing, and promoting safe sexual practices should be part of preventive care (Barnstable, 2017). Another way to combat this challenge is to recommend routine STD screening, especially for individuals who are sexually active or at a higher risk of infection (Rogers, 2022). The nurse practitioner can discuss recommended testing frequency based on the individual’s risk factors and age.

NURS 676 Week 5 Discussion Responses

McKenzie Rosendale

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition that affects older men, typically 60 years old or greater, and is when the prostate and surrounding tissue expands. Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia include urinary hesitancy, urinary urgency, increased frequency of urination, dysuria, and nocturia (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021, pg. 463). Before prescribing medications, a thorough assessment and labs must be completed. Lab will be able to provide information regarding PSA levels and if the PSA level is elevated, which can be a sign of BPH. The provider should also review the medical history, allergies, and other medications to make sure there is no contraindications. There are two medications that are used for BPH: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and alpha-adrenergic antagonists. Dutasteride and finasteride are two medications that are 5-alpha- reductase inhibitors and help reduce the prostate size. For alpha-adrenergic antagonists, the two medications are silodosin and tamsulosin. The mechanism of action for these medications is to block the alpha receptors to help relax the smooth muscle of the bladder neck (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021, pg. 464). The provider can ensure safe and effective medication administration by the provider going over the side effects of the medication and educating the patient on the mechanism of the action for the medications. In addition to education, the patient should be frequently monitored for any side effects and have PSA checked more often. In conclusion, it is important that the provider tailors each treatment to focus on the patient’s needs and ensures safe and effective medication administration.

Vicente Gutierrez

The thyroid is responsible to the regulation of hormones on metabolism, cardiac, function, growth, and development (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). In hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism the T3 and T4 levels are affected by either under or over production in the thyroid. In hypothyroidism the T3 and T4 production are diminished, while in hyperthyroidism the effects are opposite with an over production of T3 and T4 hormones (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021).

Hypothyroidism can affect individuals of all ages in adults it is referred to as hypothyroidism, when the deficiency is severe it is known as myxedema, it can also affect infants and this form of hypothyroidism is called congenital hypothyroidism (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). As a nurse practitioner when choosing a treatment option for hypothyroidism there are several things to be considered. For instance, the age and if the person affected is pregnant. The therapeutic strategy in adults is the replacement of the thyroid hormone with the use of a medication called levothyroxine which is the T4 hormone alone (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). Another option of treatment is the sue of levothyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3), but studies show combining these two medications show no advantage to using T4 alone (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). In pregnant women the child is at risk for permanent neuropsychological deficits causing congenital hypothyroidism to the infant, the treatment consists of hormone replacement therapy (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). If the mother was already taking medication for hypothyroidism prior to becoming pregnant, the dosage is often increased by 30-50% while in gestation (Burchum & Rosenthal, 2021). The serum TSH levels are closely monitored to ensure the safety of the patient and adequate levels of TH.