Chronic Conditions Are Associated With Aging - 1969 Words

INTRODUCTION Chronic conditions are associated with aging as concluded by (Niccoli Partridge, 2012). As growth occurs, the body cells tend to decrease in function and become susceptible to diseases. However, individual lifestyle and comorbidity, such as smoking and obesity could lead to early chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Respiratory failure, and bone diseases (Fabbri, Luppi, Beghe, Rabe, 2008). Caring for patients with such complex conditions could be challenging for nurses as well as other healthcare professional and could lead to poor care coordination, having to prioritize the care and consider the consequences of their actions and inactions (Schoen, Osborn, Squires, Doty, Pierson, Applebaum,†¦show more content†¦Rowena’s has a history of DM type II, which is also known as Non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) and occurs as a result of the inability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin or the body cells not able to absorb and utilise the insuli n produced (American Diabetes Association, 2009). It has a late onset, usually from the age of 45years. The main cause of this condition is unknown. However, two types of risk factors which are, the non-modifiable risk factors, for example, aging, genetic, and familial and the modifiable risk factors which include, sedentary lifestyle, alcoholism, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity) could be associated with the condition. Considering this fact, Rowena has both forms of risk factors; she is 48 years (Non-modifiable), morbidly obese and has a history of heavy smoking which are both examples of the modifiable risk factors of NIDDM. Secondly, overweight and obese patients with abdominal fat accumulation suffer from systemic low-grade inflammation. This type of inflammation is characterised by, elevated levels of fatty acids and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. These can mimic with normal functions of insulin and in effect cause insulin resistance according to (Van Greevenbroek, Schalkwijk, Stehouwer, 2013). Rowena also has a medical history of hypertension that can be associated to