Hca 240 Final

Disease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services How Demographics and Disease Trends are likely to Influence Health Care Delivery Life is ever changing. Society changes their ideals to the majority, technology is the forefront of living, and life spans are extending by years. Diseases that plagued older generations are being prevented and/or cured with the use of modern technology and understanding of the disease itself. Disease trends are being found, and development for the prevention is the forefront of many countries. Health care is also affected, and major developments are being made to insure the health of all who life today. Aging and obesity with its environment factors and demographics are being narrowed down, and the future of health care is a promising one. The current age composition of the United States population consists of an ever growing advanced age population. The baby boomers born around 1900-1960 are becoming the growing percentage of the aging population. The people born around this time period increased the U.S. population ten-fold. Along with the increased population, the life expectancy has dramatically increased. The average life expectancy rate is about 78 years. It is also expected to increase in population almost 1% every year. The aging population makes up 12.9% of the total U.S. population. It is projected that the majority of the population would at least 55-59 within the next 10 to 20 years. In some research studies, the distribution of child dependency and senior dependency would almost be equal to each other. There are environmental factors and changing demographics that contribute to the current age composition as well as the aging trend. When looking at the environmental factors, there is a lot that technology can contribute to. Adaptation is one of the biggest factors to the increasing aging population. Immunities to certain diseases increase life expectancy. Clean drinking water is another factor to a healthy society. New regulation has filtration systems in place so that bacteria and different diseases are not present to put our society at risk. There is a higher fertility rate in the United States than anywhere else in the world, this can also increase the population and in turn also increase the number of older ages in the U.S. Lastly, with the changing weather in the area, there are less severe weather changes that can put the gain population at risk for illnesses like pneumonia. With the changing demographics, it also contributes to the provisions for the aging population. In the U.S. there is a lower percentage that the elderly population is in poverty. This means that the elderly population to make sure that they are living in areas that provides for their needs. With less of the elderly population not being in poverty, medical needs are also taken care of. The availability to needed care prevents diseases, and in some cases, the progression of chronic illnesses that can impair their quality of life. Another demographic change is the increase of those who are retired and living on retirement, social security, pensions and other means. Housing changes have also changed the demographic of the United States. The aging population has a higher percentage of owning their own home, or living in assisted living or nursing homes for constant care. Increases in the aging population are also likely to increase some of the health issues that this class has covered throughout of nine weeks. As a body ages, there are many changes that take place. Blood vessels and bones become weaker, causing illnesses that particularly plague the older population. Acute renal failure is where the kidneys experience decreased blood flow. This causes the body to try to work harder to compensate. Because the body can’t filter out the waste, it can cause the development of other health issues. Another health issue that affects the aging population is musculoskeletal issues such as a loss in bone density that can make the person more susceptible to breaks and fractures. Breaks and fractures at old age are dangerous, because many doctors are unwilling to operate on the older population. This can cause reduced mobility and also increase mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. There are things that can be done to reduce health complications related to aging. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the keys to a health and longevity. A healthy diet helps in maintaining muscle and bone density, as well as maintaining a healthy weight so it will not create strain on the body. There are even programs and originations to provide healthy meals to the society young and old. One of the programs available is meals on wheels. This service provides delivered, perfectly portioned meals to older population or those with disabilities. Exercise is another prevention method because it helps with muscle and bone strength. This reduces the effects of issues like arthritis that can reduce mobility in old age. For those that are already in old age, water aerobics can relieve the pressure and compression of joints in the body. Increased flexibility can also increase the quality of life and increase independence longer. Organizations have made it their personal goal to promote a healthier society, and there are different organization (depending on geographically you are located) that provides options for exercise and healthy living. Another issue that is affecting our country is the obesity epidemic. More than one-third of U.S. adults are obese today. Along with the rising percentage of obese adults, there is also a dramatic increase in childhood and teenage obesity. This percentage is projected to increase, unless there are immediate actions taken to combat this issue. While some cases of obesity and being overweight are genetic (due to thyroids and other health issues) the majority of the epidemic is societal. Some of the environmental factors are the decrease in farmland that is available to produce natural food. Many of the population do not have gardens of their own to produce their own healthy foods. This leads many to either by store-bought products (that many have unhealthy chemicals inside). The availability of fast food restaurants and the lower cost in purchasing unhealthy food compared to healthy food has the percentage rising. With demographical changes, families work more infrequent hours. This causes less set times for meals and an increase in snacking that can contribute to overweight and obese population. With the majority of gatherings being centralized around food, overeating is something that is almost guaranteed. With the changing demographic, it also has increased the availability to food associated to weight gain (which also is associated to United States tradition) such as red meats, processed meats, mashed potatoes, French fries, and potato chips. Even sporting events provide processed meats like hot dogs, with French fries or potato chips, accompanied with sugary drinks. There are many diseases that accompany being overweight and obese. Diabetes is one of the staggeringly rising health issues also affecting the U.S. today. Type I diabetes is genetic and those who have a parent that has a Type I diabetes have an increased chance to contract Type I. Type II (which is the most common) is due to the body not being able to produce enough insulin. With those who are overweight or obese, their body provides more fatty tissue. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant cells become to insulin. Along with just being overweight/obese many are inactive. This does not use the glucose in the body so that the body can be more sensitive to insulin. Heart disease is another illness that increases with the rising percentage of the obese population. Hyperlipidemia is the elevation of fats in the blood. This causes high cholesterol of the “bad” kind, and causes the blood vessels to be blocked. This increases blood pressure and can make a person more prone to heart attacks and strokes. With blood pressure and the blockage of blood vessels, the decreases blood flow can also put extremities at risk. With decreased blood flow (along with inactivity) it can be severe enough to require the obese person to require amputation. There are many things that can be done to reduce the health complications related to obesity, as well as decrease the numbers of those becoming obese. For those who developed Type II diabetes due to being obese, there are different methods to help with symptoms. Insulin injections and medications are most commonly prescribed. Those who have an aggressive form of diabetes, dialysis may be required. The kidneys an only do so much, and when the filtration of waste is decreased or ceased, dialysis cleans to blood of toxins. Healthy lifestyles are encouraged for many of the health complications related to obesity. By eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and low in red and processed meats, you reduce the “bad” cholesterol creating better blood flow and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Exercise is something that can also decrease the health complications due to obesity. With regular exercise (30 minutes a day is all it takes) it brings more oxygen to muscles and increases endurance. Increased endurance decreases inactivity, and in turn burns calories and fat. This can lower weight and decrease the number of those who are overweight and or obese. Programs and organizations are everywhere today that promotes a healthy diet and exercise. These programs show the younger generations the importance of healthy lifestyles and will reduce the number in the later generations. The future is ever changing, and health care is something that will need to adapt to the changing demographic of the U.S. population. For the increasing age, and age-related issues, the delivery of health care will shift from emergency care, to more of the treatment of chronic illnesses. There will be a high demand of nurses and paraprofessionals that focus on chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, etc. More long-term care facilities will be built to sustain the aging population, as well as in-home care. As well as those who are in direct contact with the aging population, there will be an increase for those who deal with the financial issues that surround their care. There is normally a mix of public and private sources that pay for the care that the aging population needs, and there will be a demand for those qualified to handle Medicare and Medicaid insurances, to make sure that everyone is paid, and paid promptly. For those with obesity-related issues, the health care delivery will also adapt. With the high percentage of the population being obese and the projected increase, there is going to be a demand for specialists who are trained in healthy living as well as chronic diseases caused by obesity. Nutritionists will be in need to promote those who are obese to eat healthy as well as exercise to increase longevity. Specialists who focus on cancer research, mental health, blood, etc. are expected to increase. There may be more home services available due to the limited mobility that those who are obese experience. Regardless of the changes that are taking place in the population, health care will always be needed. Health care adapts as society does, as we try to better understand the human body.
References
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Human Diseases: A Systemic Approach, Seventh Edition, by Mark Zelman, Ph.D., Elaine Tompary, PharmD, Jill Raymond, Ph.D., Paul Holdaway, MA, and Mary Lou Mulvihill, Ph.D. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 6