Nursing Assignment: Impact of Diet and Mental Health Practices

This nursing assignment explores the impact of the Mediterranean diet and mental health practices in managing coronary heart disease (CHD) and related conditions. The report discusses the use of statin drugs versus lifestyle changes like adopting a Mediterranean or vegan diet to control cholesterol and reduce CHD risk. It highlights debates regarding the effectiveness and side effects of statins and advocates for holistic care regimens, including mental and emotional counseling, particularly in the context of conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The assignment references studies and research, including those by Dalen & Devries (2014), Salvadó & Lapetra (2017), and others, to support its arguments and emphasize the importance of considering both pharmaceutical interventions and lifestyle modifications for comprehensive patient care. It emphasizes the need for alternative options to statins and the importance of diet and lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions. The report also points out the loopholes in the Australian care system for mental health patients.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Nursing Assignment
Name of the student
University name
Author’s name

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Comment 1- Mediterranean diet
The current study discusses the impact of Mediterranean diet and other lifestyle changes in
reducing the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The Statin drugs have been used in order to
control or reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood of an individual. However as argued by
Dalen & Devries (2014), debatable results have been obtained regarding the true effects of statin
in controlling cholesterol level in the blood.
Recent studies have also shown that presence of other associated factors such as
Atherosclerosis and diabetes is independent of the blood cholesterol level. However, as
commented by Salvadó & Lapetra (2017), the breakings down of red meat in Trimethyl Oxide
(TMAO) have been seen to promote the development of defective cardiovascular conditions in
humans. However, research and evidences has shown that a practically vegan diet has been seen
to promote a positive and healthy functioning of the heart.
Comment 2-
The mental health practices are based upon risk an assessment and management for the
prevention and control of diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder on the life of an
individual. In this respect, the methods are simply based upon the analysis and management of
the risks, however, they to fail to measure the positive and negative consequences of such
diseases.
The Australian mental health system on the other hand is focussed upon provision of a
holistic care regimen to the patients seeking care. This is done by providing them mental and
emotional counselling, which is based upon self –determination and self –management
principles. As argued by Mamelle et al.(2010),there are still a number of loopholes in the
Australian care system. This is because diseases with profound effect on the life of an individual

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such as Schizophrenia and bipolar need constant management and supervision. However, no
particular measure has been adopted by far which will be aimed at the improvement of the same.
Response 1
The article points at the use of statin as prescription drugs for the prevention and control of
coronary heart disease. The current studies have shown statin to reduce the risk of heart disease
by 30%. On the contrary, the Mediterranean diets have been shown to reduce the risk of statin
related heart disease by 70%. Therefore, there have been disputes regrading which conventional
mode of medication to be followed.
As argued by World Health Organisation (2017), the uses of statin as medicinal drugs have
often been found to result in a number of side effects. Some of these include increased risk of
diabetes and related cognitive impairment. In my opinion, the sale of statin drugs across the
globe signifies that there are still loopholes as the introduction of other similar options. However,
i think that adapting to a positive lifestyle change can also bring in a positive effect and can act
as a control measure.
Response 2
The global uses of statin have pointed out at the affectivity of the drug in lowering the blood
cholesterol level along with reducing the cellular concentration of statin in the blood. However,
as commented by Hughes et al. (2015), adapting to holistic care regimen and principles such as
resorting to a vegan diet can help achieve the same outcomes without causing any adverse side
effects.
Therefore, in my opinion use of such an alternative option not only helps in increasing the
longevity of a person’s life. It also helps in reducing the risk of side effects brought about by
constant use of statin. As commented by Kidd et al.(2015), Mediterranean diet have been seen

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to change gene expression and decrease inflammation through the promotion of healthy
microbiota. Therefore, there is a need to bring about recommended changes in the suggested
medication. This helps in prevention of the cardiovascular diseases as well as promotion of a
holistic health care.

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References
Dalen, J. E., & Devries, S. (2014). Diets to prevent coronary heart disease 1957-2013: what have
we learned?. The American journal of medicine, 127(5), 364-369.
Gutiérrez-Bedmar, M., Martínez-González, M. Á., Muñoz-Bravo, C., Ruiz-Canela, M., Mariscal,
A., Salas-Salvadó, J., ... & Lapetra, J. (2017). Chromium Exposure and Risk of
Cardiovascular Disease in High Cardiovascular Risk Subjects―Nested Case-Control
Study in the Prevention With Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) Study―. Circulation
Journal, 81(8), 1183-1190.
Hughes, P., Ahmed, N., Winslow, M., Walters, S. J., Collins, K., & Noble, B. (2015). Consumer
views on a new holistic screening tool for supportive and palliative‐care needs: Sheffield
Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (SPARC): a survey of self‐help support
groups in health care. Health Expectations, 18(4), 562-577.
J (2013) Recovery capital: What enables a sustainable recovery from mental health difficulties?
European Journal of Social Work 16: 360–374
J (2013) Recovery capital: What enables a sustainable recovery from mental health difficulties?
European Journal of Social Work 16: 360–374
Kidd, S., Kenny, A., & McKinstry, C. (2015). The meaning of recovery in a regional mental
health service: an action research study. Journal of advanced nursing, 71(1), 181-192.
Randomised trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: the
Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Lancet 1994; 344: 1383-1389 [PMID:
7968073] 2 de Lorgeril M, Renaud S, Mamelle N, Salen P, Martin JL, Monjaud I,
Guidollet J, Touboul P, Delaye J. Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acidrich diet in

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secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Lancet 1994; 343: 1454-1459 [PMID:
7911176] 3 de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Martin JL, Monjaud I, Boucher P, Mamelle N.
Mediterranean dietary pattern in a randomized trial: prolonged survival and possible
reduced cancer rate. Arch Intern Med 1998; 158: 1181-1187 [PMID: 9625397]
Valls-Pedret, C., Sala-Vila, A., Serra-Mir, M., Corella, D., de la Torre, R., Martínez-González,
M. Á., ... & Estruch, R. (2015). Mediterranean diet and age-related cognitive decline: a
randomized clinical trial. JAMA internal medicine, 175(7), 1094-1103.
World Health Organisation 2017, ‘Seventieth Health Assembly update, 30 May 2017’, Viewed
23 July 2017, Retrieved from www.who.int.com