Asthma/Ageing

Question 1

asthma

Answer 1

3rd most common chronic disease in canada
40 percent more prevalent among first nations than general population
kills approximately 250 canadians each year

Question 2

what is asthma

Answer 2

a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes
characterized by wheezing, coughing, tightness of chest, shortness of breath

Question 3

risk factors

Answer 3

genetics
age at onset of disease
levels of allergen exposure
urban residence
exposure to air pollution, tobacco smoke, and environmental tobacco smoke
other environmental allergens = mould, dust, pollen, animal dander
recurrent respiratory tract viral infections
gastroesophageal reflux disease
obesity

Question 4

common approach to care

Answer 4

tertiary prevention 
rescue medication (bronchodilators) = fast acting, usually inhaled, provide temporary relief of symptoms
maintenance/controller medication (coricosteroids) = slower acting, can be inhaled or swallowed, used to prevent attacks/flare ups

Question 5

individual effects of asthma

Answer 5

quality of life
loss time at work/school
physical activity limitations 
costs for management 
sense of control over health

Question 6

sector/system effects of asthma

Answer 6

leading cause of hospital admission in canada ($250,728,024, indirect costs $646 million)
leading cause of absenteeism (school and work)
decreased productivity

Question 7

recommendations target for asthma

Answer 7

professional associations
physicians, healthcare professionals and medical researchers
patients

Question 8

health indicators for seniors

Answer 8

self-rated health 
psychological well-being 
disease incidence and prevalence 
disability days 
activity limitation 
major causes of death 
life expectancy at birth 
potential years of life lost

Question 9

developmental disabilities in seniors

Answer 9

rate among canadians over 15 years in 2001 was 0.5% or 120,140 people
of these an about 44,770 were 45-64 years old and 11,080 were 65-74 years old
those with milder disabilities are living as long as the general population
this means that many adults with developmental disabilities are now outliving their parents

Question 10

life expectancy

Answer 10

men who survive to age 65 can expect to live an additional 17.4 years
women who live to 65 can expect 20.8 years
men are more likely (59%) than women (52%) to have overall good health
female life expectancy = 84.9 years
male = 80.9 years

Question 11

disease frequency

Answer 11

ageing and chronic disease
aging is an important marker of the accumulation of modifiable risks for chronic disease
impact of risk factors begins early in life and increases over life course

Question 12

chronic disease

Answer 12

poor health and disability in older age is largely a consequence of chronic diseases and conditions (such as problems with vision and hearing) and injuries resulting from falls

Question 13

differences in chronic disease

Answer 13

women more likely to have arthritis/rheumatism, cataracts/glaucoma and back problems
rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, the effects of stroke and alzheimers disease/dementia are higher among men
10-15% of seniors suffer from depressive symptoms and/or clinical depression

Question 14

osteoporosis

Answer 14

associated with age and menopause

occurs more often in women

Question 15

risk factors of osteoporosis

Answer 15

females increasing age
white or asian 
estrogen deficiency 
low calcium intake 
degeneration of the cartilage

Question 16

dementia

Answer 16

late life dementias = affect 8% of seniors over the age of 65 and more than 25% over 80
dementia was considered to be one of the greatest public health challenges of the coming generation

Question 17

alzheimers

Answer 17

most common type of dementia
around 97,000 canadians develop alzheimers or a related disease
about 747,000 live with some form of cognitive impairment

Question 18

activity limitations

Answer 18

implies ability to perform daily activities for oneself
strong relationship between self-perceived health and potential to carry out daily activities
in 2003 1 in 10 seniors over 75 needed someone else to help with their personal care

Question 19

injury and outcome

Answer 19

injury = less likely to happen because fewer take part in activities they'd be injured in
outcome = if they are injured they lose their independence and move into institutions

Question 20

canadian longitudinal study on aging

Answer 20

large, national, long-term study
collect information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, and economic aspects of people’s lives
understand why, to look at how to maintain health and prevent the development of disease and disability as people age

Question 21

definition of healthy aging

Answer 21

aims to optimize the well-being of all canadians as they age, including those who are frail, disabled, and in need of care

Question 22

model of healthy aging

Answer 22

it is necessary for older people to play an active role in maintaining physical and mental health and to optimize their capacity until later life through promoting a healthy lifestyle

Question 23

model of healthy aging rejects and requires

Answer 23

rejects = age-based stereotypes and counters the assumptions that ageing means decline into frailty and senility 
requires = motivation and expectations of aging to be healthy aging so they will participate in health promoting behaviours

Question 24

results of expectations of aging

Answer 24

women believed the had poorer physical health
positive expectations regarding aging was associated with better physical and mental health
expectations regarding aging, and health promoting behaviour is needed to achieve health status outcomes

Question 25

how to use the model of healthy aging

Answer 25

we focus on management and treatment but we need to focus on promotion and protection
need to understand seniors perception of health aging

Question 26

living to an extreme age study

Answer 26

themes included
i am vital (i contribute to society)
i am diminished (invisible)
i am beholden to no one (personal autonomy)
have a good attitude to aging
look after your own body
study conclusions = stereotypes of old age should be challenged

Question 27

alberta strategy on aging

Answer 27

financial security and income 
housing and aging in the right place 
continuing care
healthy aging and health care 
transportation and mobility 
safety and security 
supportive communities 
access to government

Question 28

role of nurse in context of population health specific to seniors

Answer 28

advocate (building coalitions and networks)
community development role 
facilitator 
health educator (health threat response)
leader (policy development and implementation) 
referral and follow-up role 
researcher/evaluator 
resource management 
coordinator (screening, surveillance)