Question

v

For the following chronic conditions, please explain why a good diet and consistent exercise are good methods of prevention? In other words, why do diet and exercise help prevent each these conditions:

A. Heart Disease

B. Asthma

C. Alzheimer's Disease

Answer 1

Ans) A. Heart disease:

There is no single step for preventing cardiovascular disease; all aspects of a healthy lifestyle impact cardiovascular fitness. Eating a healthy diet can reduce your dietary cholesterol and help maintain a healthy body weight. Getting regular exercise can also help maintain a healthy body weight as well as strengthen the heart muscle. Avoiding smoking is another part of a healthy lifestyle that can significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

B. Asthma

Explaination:

Diet in preventing Asthma:

- Some Foods may cause chest tightness and trigger asthma flare ups.

- Foods to avoid include: beans, carbonated drinks, onions, garlic and fried foods.

- Remember, no single food or vitamin will supply all the nutrients you need. A diet with a variety of vitamins and nutrients that keep our minds and bodies healthy.

EXERCISE AND ASTHMA: ENJOYING AN ASTHMA-FREE WORKOUT
In recent years, many individuals have found that regular exercise can also be a positive means for asthma therapy. The key to exercise effectiveness as a therapeutic option for asthma sufferers is that it makes breathing more efficient. Some evidence also exists to suggest that proper exercise also makes the airways of the lungs less sensitive to those factors which are conducive to bronchospasm.

As it was mentioned earlier, because exercise can in some instances trigger an asthmatic attack, it is extremely important that your client and his or her physician work together to develop a comprehensive exercise and medication plan to deal with this medical condition. Keep in mind that one individual's specific response to exercise may vary from another's. If you develop an appropriate and sensible exercise program, your client has much to gain from regular physical activity, including an increase in overall wellness.

Most physicians suggest that the first step for being able to safely combine asthma and exercise is to find out how an individual's body reacts during exercise and identifying what should be done in certain situations. The next step is to develop an exercise regimen that meets your client's needs and interests. Heed the following guidelines to ensure that your client's exercise program is both productive and safe.

Select an exercise, such as swimming, that raises the heart rate, increases respiratory rate, and is relatively easy on the lungs.
Avoid asthma triggers as much as possible. For example, if your client is allergic to pollen, exercise indoors. Avoid outdoor exercise on polluted, cold, and dry days. Advise your client to wear a mask or a scarf if he or she must exercise outside on a cold day. (This warms and moistens the inhaled air.) If possible, exercise in warm, humid air.
Perform specific breathing exercises to strengthen the lungs.
Medicate prior to exercising (30 minutes before engaging in activity).
Have your client keep his or her inhaler close by during exercise.
Perform warm-up (under control) exercises prior to working out.
Avoid very intense exercise for prolonged periods of time.
Advise your client to breathe through the nose as much as possible while exercising.
Control breathing rate to prevent hyperventilation.
hyperventilation: A condition in which you suddenly start to breathe very quickly.

C. Alzheimer's Disease

Explaination:

Diet is also a concern - low fat, low sugar is better

Effect of exercise:

Shown to improve physical functioning, increase cardiorespiratory fitness and slow/reverse disability in basic ADLs.
-Benefits of training depends on age of onset, stage of disease, and other co-morbidities.
-May extend independent mobility, enhance QOL & social interaction despite disease progression.
-Can help reduce risk of falls by preserving muscle mass and lower body strength, enhancing balance & mobility.
-Faster declines in ADL in later stages.