NURS_FPX4900 Assessment 4-1_Intervention Patient Education on Hypertension Self-Management

Patient Education on Hypertension Self-Management

Background

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular condition. Hypertension means having a high blood pressure reading of 140/90mm and above (CDC, 2022). Delayed control can lead to other health conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, stroke, vision loss, erectile dysfunction, and cognitive decline.

Risk Factors Associated with Hypertension

• Having too much salt in one’s diet
• Tobacco smoking
• Alcohol dependence
• The lack of physical activity
• Being overweight

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

• Severe headache
• Changes in vision
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Chest Pain

Hypertension Self-Management

Hypertension self-management creates an opportunity for patients to take charge of their health. The intervention reinforces the need for effective relationships between patients and healthcare professionals, willingness to talk about blood pressure, and discussing treatment plan. The process involves increased awareness about behavior modifications that help control hypertension. Self-management practices include:

1. Monitoring blood pressure levels

A plan for monitoring blood pressure including checking the parameter twice per day. The schedule could include once in the morning and another test in the evening. Home blood pressure monitoring or seeking services from the local health care facility ensure that you adopt consistent blood pressure goals (Li et al., 2020).

1. Record blood pressure levels

• Keep a blood pressure monitoring journal

1. Lifestyle modifications associated with hypertension self-management

• Reduce weight and maintain a body mass index of between 18.5-24.9kg/m².
• Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low fat content.
• Reduce dietary sodium intake to less than 2,300mg of sodium a day.
• Embrace regular physical exercise including brisk walking for about 30 minutes per day.
• Moderate alcohol consumption
• Quit tobacco smoking
• Utilize professional and government websites for additional reading and information on hypertension self-management

Collaboration and Communication

Successful hypertension self-management requires patients to coordinate with qualified healthcare professionals such as CHWs, nurses, physicians, and social workers. For this reason, communication and collaboration entails:

• Face-to-face counselling with a qualified professional such as a nurse or community pharmacist
• Utilize telehealth to for timely and remote access to crucial information on symptoms management
• Telephone conversations for real-time sharing of important health details.
• Participate in community education and classes on self-management techniques
• Have a well-written plan with visit summaries and follow-up guidance.

Health Policies and Hypertension Management

1. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

• Focuses on data privacy, confidentiality, and security
• Safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to PHI (Kadakia et al., 2021).
• Encourages ethical use of electronic media to deliver patient-centered services.

1. The Affordable Care Act

• Enhances patient access to primary care providers and specialists for quality and safe health services.
• Improves access to counselling and patient education to prevent undesirable disease prognosis (Huguet et al., 2021).
• Strengthen access to prescription drugs for patients with chronic conditions.
• Encourages positive health-seeking behaviors through enhanced access to hypertension promotion and education.