Prevalence of CVD and type 2 diabetes in society today
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of all adults in the United States have at least one risk factor for CVD. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, smoking, and obesity.
The CDC also estimates that more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and 90-95% of those cases are type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults over the age of 45, and the prevalence increases with age.
Measures that a nurse can take to assist patients with health promotion measures to incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives
As a nurse, you can play an important role in helping patients incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives. Here are some measures you can take:
- Assess the patient’s current physical activity level. This will help you develop a realistic exercise plan for the patient.
- Educate the patient on the benefits of regular exercise. Explain how exercise can help reduce the risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
- Help the patient set realistic goals. Start with small goals, such as walking for 10 minutes three times a week. As the patient gets stronger and more fit, they can gradually increase the amount of time they spend exercising.
- Recommend activities that the patient enjoys. This is important for increasing the likelihood that the patient will stick with their exercise plan.
- Provide support and encouragement. Let the patient know that you are there to help them reach their fitness goals.
Kind of activities to recommend and amount of exercise
The CDC recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. Children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
There are many different types of activities that middle-aged adults can do to meet the CDC’s physical activity recommendations. Some examples include:
- Walking
- Biking
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Gardening
- Hiking
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Strength training exercises
Approach to gain cooperation from the patient
It is important to start by understanding the patient’s reasons for not being active. Some common reasons include lack of time, motivation, or confidence. Once you understand the patient’s barriers, you can work together to develop a plan to overcome them.
Here are some tips for gaining cooperation from the patient:
- Be supportive and encouraging. Let the patient know that you are there to help them reach their fitness goals.
- Make it easy for the patient to get started. Recommend activities that are convenient and accessible for the patient.
- Set realistic goals. Start with small goals that the patient is likely to achieve. As the patient gets stronger and more fit, they can gradually increase their goals.
- Help the patient find an activity partner. Having someone to exercise with can make it more fun and motivating.
- Celebrate the patient’s successes. Let the patient know how proud you are of their progress.
Evidence-based literature
A large body of evidence shows that regular exercise can help prevent and manage CVD and type 2 diabetes. For example, a 2016 review of studies found that exercise was associated with a 35% lower risk of death from CVD and a 27% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Another study, published in the journal Circulation in 2019, found that adults who met the CDC’s physical activity recommendations were 20% less likely to develop CVD than those who did not meet the recommendations.
The evidence is clear: regular exercise is one of the best things that middle-aged adults can do for their health. As a nurse, you can play an important role in helping patients incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives.
