Atherosclerosis - Support Groups

Though atherosclerosis in and of itself is a relatively manageable disease given the right interventions, it is a disease nonetheless, and can lead to further complications such as cardiovascular disease. As a result, many related support groups focus on cardiovascular disease as opposed to solely focusing on atherosclerosis. Upon having been diagnosed, individuals may feel vulnerable, helpless or even clueless as to how they can improve their health.  It is in these moments that support is imperative.  Support from doctors and nurses is helpful, but people need backup from their family, community and peers, which oftentimes comes in the form of support groups.

One such support group, Mended Care, reaches out to patients with cardiovascular diseases.  They offer emotional support and care to those going through tough times.  Extending their care to all, they are present in the form of in-hospital visits, community support groups and education workshops.

Other similar support groups include the FH Foundation, WomenHeart, Mended Little Hearts, and Sisters by Heart.  While the FH foundation is widely focused and includes all patients as well as health care providers, the other mentioned support groups focus on specific demographic groups such as women and children.

WomenHeart is a group that supports women nationally through encouragement, teaching them various ways to cope, and promoting communication within their families and with their physicians. They provide various options of communication, including in-person meetings, email, and telephone.

Mended Little Hearts and Sisters by Heart are support groups that focus uniting parents of children with heart disease.  They deeply encourage peer communication and support, and work to help families obtain the resources they require during these times.

https://www.cardiosmart.org/Heart-Conditions/Atherosclerosis/Getting-Support

Nursing Care for Individuals with Atherosclerosis

As was mentioned previously, one of the most important interventions a nurse can provide for a patient is the promotion of self-care.  Self-care can only begin when the patient is aware and knowledgeable of the different risk factors and stages of progression of this disease.

Due to today's common use of technology, a beneficial and efficient form of obtaining information is provided through mobile applications such as Eureka.in - Atherosclerosis, Cure for Atherosclerosis, Tactio, and WebMD. While some of these apps are simply informational based, others serve as a means of improving and tracking atherosclerotic related factors such as cholesterol and weight.  WebMD is a particularly helpful app because it is a reliable source of information that is not limited solely to atherosclerosis, but covers a multiple of other diseases and health problems as well.

Though there are only a handful of apps mentioned above, there are many more apps that can work toward informing users and helping individuals track, manage and prevent this disease.

However, even though these apps may contain a lot of information, it is important to confirm that patients are getting the critical facts.  It is difficult to determine whether or not each app contains the must-knows. As a result, one on one patient education is necessary as the initial step.  After having taught the patient directly, the apps can then be suggested for for additional or backup information.

Dietary Treatment for Atherosclerosis

While there are several means of treatment for atherosclerosis, the healthiest means is indisputably an altered diet.  Key aspects of a healthy diet include a high intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, avoiding trans fat and limiting saturated fat, eating large varieties of proteinaceous foods, and limiting both cholesterol and salt.

WebMD suggests a number of ways to change eating habits into "heart-healthy diets." One such suggestion is the consumption of fish. Given that fish are a good source of protein and other necessary nutrients, this article recommends salmon, tuna and mackerel which provide Omega-3 fatty acids.

Another important aspect of a heart-healthy diet includes completely eliminating trans fat.  Trans fat is detrimental to one's health because it raises LDL cholesterol which contributes largely to  plaque build up within the arteries.  Some examples of food that contain trans fat include: pizza, fast food, margarine sticks, coffee creamer, and others.   It is also recommended to limit saturated fat to less than 10 percent of caloric intake.  Checking the food labels for the amount of saturated fat is a good tip to know and control just how much is being consumed with each meal.  Foods high in saturated fat include sausages, butter, cream, cheese, cakes and biscuits and creams. Conversely, it is good to eat small amounts of unsaturated fat, as it will help increase the level of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and work to reduce blockage in the arteries.  Examples of foods containing unsaturated fat include: fish, avocados, and nuts or seeds.  Because cholesterol plays a large role in atherosclerosis, it is imperative to refrain from going above 300 milligrams beyond the specified limit per day.

Research has shown that eating about 2,000 mg of sterols and stanols each day can reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol by about 10%.  As a result, the risk of heart disease can decrease by as much as 25%. Sterols and stanols can be found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes and both olive and vegetable oils.

Finally, it is important cut back on sodium.  It is easy to consume too much of it, but limiting consumption of this element can help individuals control their blood pressure.  The daily recommended intake for those monitoring atherosclerosis is less than 6 grams per day.  

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-healthy-diet
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Atherosclerosis/Pages/Prevention.aspx

Nursing Care for Atherosclerosis

Creating a plan of care for a patient with atherosclerosis is highly dependent on patient education.  Because atherosclerosis is a disease that cannot truly be determined until fatalities such as myocardial infarctions and strokes occur, a large role of the nurse is informing patients of the many risk factors, and how a change of lifestyle can help prevent atherosclerosis.  Consequently, the primary patient outcome in the case of atherosclerosis is to inform the patient on ways to prevent or slow the progression of the disease.  For instance, teaching them that living an overall healthier life  such as eating a healthier diet, participating in physical activities frequently, and refraining from tobacco, can help decrease risk for atherosclerosis, and are number one preventative measures.

Further, it is important to make patients aware of what signs and symptoms to look for. Such signs and symptoms could include a sudden or gradual onset of pain in the lower back, groin, abdomen or chest, a bluish hue or coolness of the lower extremities, increased weakness and fatigue, and a decreased urine output.

A nursing plan of care for this disease also depends on the location affected. If someone does not yet know whether or not they have atherosclerosis, this is not helpful, but for a patient who has already been diagnosed, the nurse can be more specific in the treatments necessary as well as patient education.

Simply being aware of how to work toward preventing atherosclerosis and knowing what signs and symptoms to identify
can drastically improve an individual' chances toward prevention and early detection.

The website below is very helpful in outlining the measures taken by the nurse, and does well in addressing elements to assess, trigger factors to identify, causes, risk factors, and treatment.

http://www.nanda-books.com/2012/10/nursing-care-plan-for-atherosclerosis.html