Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Wellness: NSB105 Report, Semester 1

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of a case study involving a 40-year-old woman named Jan, focusing on her risk of cardiovascular disease. The report examines the social and behavioral determinants of health that contribute to Jan's condition, including her recent divorce, job loss, family history of heart disease, and lifestyle choices. It delves into the impact of cardiovascular disease on women, particularly in Australia, and explores how social factors, such as access to healthcare and cultural beliefs, influence health outcomes. The report also identifies the behavioral determinants affecting Jan, such as her diet, stress levels, and coping mechanisms. Furthermore, it discusses the principles of motivational interviewing as an effective approach to manage Jan's stress and improve her health behaviors, emphasizing empathy, reflective listening, and support. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to health and the role of nurses in providing information and support to patients to improve their overall well-being and lifespan.

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Wellness Across the Lifespan
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Introduction
According to the world health organization, health is defined as not only the absence of
disease and infirmity but also the presence spiritual and mental wellbeing. There are many
factors that affect the growth and development of individuals along their lifespan. These factors,
usually described as the social determinants of health, play a very critical role in shaping not
only the behavior but also the overall health outcomes of both men and women in various places
of the world (John, 2018 ; Schroeder, et al., 2018)
Jan is an example of a woman who has gone through experiences in her life that have
affected her health negatively. She is at a risk of contacting cardiovascular diseases. She is an
aged woman who has had a divorce and has lost her job. This factors significantly promote to her
ill health. The social and behavioral determinants of health and also the associated effects of
cardiovascular disease will be analyzed in this text and will be related to Jan's condition.
The impact that cardiovascular disease has on Australian women
Cardiovascular disease is one of the causes of disability and death among the global
population. Women are significantly disabled due to its negating effects on the body. In
Australia, cardiovascular disease affects women negatively in that they are not able to continue
with the activities of daily living productively (Taylor et al, 2016; Patel, et al., 2016).
For those women who provide for their families, cardiovascular disease such as
congestive heart families, lead to a situation in which they are not able to fend for the needs of

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their families. As a result, children and other family members end up suffering in their absence
and this leads to further emotional problems for them. Women of Aboriginal origin are also a
unique set of women within. Australia who undergo much suffering due to their inability to seek
healthcare. The inability to seek health care by these women is due to their cultural believes and
practices that sometimes prohibit them to seek healthcare and also stops them from visiting
medical facilities. These cultural and social factors play a critical role in shaping the health
seeking behavior of women suffering from cardiovascular problems within Australia. Therefore
common it is highly crucial for ways and means to be established that enable this woman sick
medical care (Johnson et al., 2016; Guo et al., 2018). It is also important to note the side effects
of cardiovascular disease. The presence of chest tightness, muscle weakness and chest pain
among other negating effects of cardiovascular disease means women have to bear through a lot
to continue living . Women are not able to live a life that is of high quality because of the
continued need to take medication. The absence of medical intervention in means that the life
span of these women is reduced.
Social determinants that increase Jan's risk of cardiovascular disease.
Social determinants that affect Jan's health include the physical environment that she
lives in, biology and genetics, individual environment and health services that she accesses.
Biology and genetics play a very fundamental role as social determinants of Jan’s health.
she has a history of cardiovascular disease in her family. This can be evidenced by the fact that
her mother died of a hear attack. Individuals who have a familial history of cardiovascular
disease in their family have a higher susceptibility of experiencing or suffering from the same
conditions. This is attributed to the genetic predispositions associated with cardiovascular disease
(Marmot, 2013 ; Baker et al., 2018).Access to health services is also a factor to consider as a

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social determinant affecting her health. This can be seen by the fact that she does not have
enough finances having lost a job. It is highly crucial that she is guided on having insurance
cover that would be useful during search a crisis. Health seeking behavior it significantly
affected by the ability to pay for health services. The cost of maintaining treatment in cases of
cardiovascular services very high and require someone to have stable job working environment.
Incidentally she does not have a stable working environment because she lost her job.
The surrounding physical environment also plays a very crucial role in her life. She does
not possess a job and has many children to take care of period. Their stressful environment that is
accompanied by worry about her health and separation from her husband has a very negating
effect of overall cardiovascular health period stress is one of the factors that significantly
exaggerates cardiovascular disease. It is significantly important that she avoids stress that is
coming from different circumstances outside how control. She has to seek counseling and advice
so that she does not fall prey to the negative effects of stress which is a worsening cardiovascular
prognosis (Jepson et al., 2010).
Behavioral determinants that increase Jan’s risk of cardiovascular illness
The behavioral determinants of health include eating a healthy diet, having a culture of
physical activity, avoiding the use of drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, avoidance of stress and
possessing good coping mechanisms (Mwachui et al., 2015).
Stress can be seen as one of the factors that would promote cardiovascular disease in
Jan's life owing to the fact that she has been through a lot of external pressures. Jan is worried
about death from heart disease, which is common in her family as her mother died a heart attack
years before. By the fact that she does not have a job, and was currently separated her habit of

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worry has a very significant negating effect to her health and overall way of life. It is crucial that
the community health nurse offers her alternative coping mechanisms that would be useful in
helping her control these anxieties. It is clear that her coping mechanisms are also poor as she
has a lot of worry about day to day survival (Kelly et al, 2016).
Feeding patterns also play a role in increasing cases of cardiovascular disease. John does
not mention her feeding patterns but it is highly likely that she takes an unhealthy diet which is
not appropriate for an individual suffering from cardiovascular illnesses. Feeding on fast foods
which have not been well prepared and contain alot of fats, carbohydrates, and other
preservatives which have negative effects on the body increases the risk of cardiovascular
illnesses (Gibson, 2018).
Coping mechanisms by the use of alcohol, tobacco, wines and spirits significantly
increases risk of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. It is clear by the stresses that john is
going through likely will that she is using this increases.
Physical inactivity can also be seen by the fact that she is unemployed. This is because
does not seek a job order to get rid of a state of unemployment. She does not seem to be
searching for a job but rather complains of not having one. In addition, Jan is highly likely to be
sitting for long hours at home which would increase her risk of cardiovascular disease markedly.
The principles of motivational interviewing and how they would be effective in
managing Jan's state.
Motivational interviewing would be effective in the management of stress and emotional
problems that would ultimately lead to a worsening prognosis of cardiovascular disease (
Dehlendorf 2014).

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Motivational interviewing in itself is not just to the process of interviewing a client but
also experiencing with a client is going through. Acceptance of the clients overall state is
inherent to motivational interviewing. It is a method to establish a viable interaction with the
client and is a technique of cancelling that is highly effective in solving client's problems. It is
solely based on carol disses humanistic theories which focus on self actualization to improve
behavior and performance. The role of the nurse in motivational interviewing is to offer directive
and motivational statements the promise a good change in behavior. Through motivation, the
health state of the client is improved.
Motivational interviewing is based on very many viable principles one of these principles
include expressing of empathy and having a stance of reflective listening. Listening to Jan, will
enable her express herself effectively and gaps in her health will be effectively identified hence
promoting her health. Empathy describes the ability to move in the client's shoes and see the
world in their eyes. It is the nurses duty not to be judgmental but to focus on the client as a
holistic being with feelings emotions and living standards. By being empathetic, it will be easier
for the patient to express herself hence promoting her health. Another principle that is crucial is
developing discrepancy in particular goals and behaviors that are expected during and even after
the interview. It is important ensure that the information being shared is secretively held and that
discrepancy and specific goals are created. Values in particular are also held during the
interview and are expected to be held after the interview. ( Erickson et al, 2018).
In addition to the two principles it is also important to avoid direct confrontation with a
client during and even after the interview. The client should feel accepted and not confronted. In
this regard the fourth principle comes in, which is adjusting to the client's resistance ( and is very
crucial) rather than opposing them directly. The client should feel accepted and not fought

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against. By this the nurse will ensure that the relationship between him or her and the client
grows even more. The principle of motivational interviewing is offering optimism and efficient
and effective support environments. The nurse is expected to ensure that he or she offers support
and is optimistic throughout the interview, this will help in changing the client's own view after
the interview. Offering optimism and effective support environments is also necessary (Erickson
et al., 2018). An environment without confrontations is necessary as it promotes the health of the
client . The client will express herself better and this will promote to a better health state.
Conclusion.
The determinants of health play a critical role in the lifespan of an individual. It is crucial
to identify ways and means to ensure that individuals live up to the required standards. Health
should be considered holistically. Viewing an individual in terms of his or her condition alone is
not warranted. Individuals should be viewed wholly in terms of who they really are. The
establishment of a therapeutic relationship that views a client wholly with appropriate boundaries
is necessary to foster change in the individuals behavior.
Nurses have a role to be custodians of health care and offer appropriate information to
patients. Access to appropriate information such as that on proper feeding regimens promotes
patients health by fostering a change in behavior and increasing the overall lifespan of the
individual in question. Motivation can also be viewed as a critical factor in improving patients
outcomes. When clients are well motivated they will have a more improved health seeking
behavior.

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