Question

final MAP goal of 25% reduction of the original MAP 2. The community health nurse is preparing a program about hypertension for a local community center. The focus of the program is on the reduction of risk factors and compliance for those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The target population includes older adults. (Learning Objectives 1 to 4)

Answer 1

The risk factors for hypertension among the older people are mainly the comorbid condition with other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases etc, other than this the usual risk factors of unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, use of tobacco and alcohol.

The goal treatment is to reduce the systolic blood pressure below 140and the diastolic below 90, is according to the JNC 7 definition of hypertension. So, the person below 140 has normal blood pressure and there is no prehypertensive state. All the people with normal blood pressure and hypertensive people also to take measures to control the blood pressure.

To address the changes in blood pressure in the geriatric population, it can be explained with the changes in the blood vessel walls. Most of the blood vessels in the person above 60 should be thick and narrow and there will be high chances of deposits of fat in between them. This all make the blood flow difficult and as a result of it, the pressure will be more.

The lifestyle modification is an important component for to control the hypertension. Most of the geriatric population will be following sedentary life, so it has to be changed, they must go for a 30minutes walk every day. Also, the diet they were taking should not rich in salt and ft content. The sodium intake should be restricted to 5gm per day. If they were using any kind of substances like tobacco or alcohol, it has to be stopped.