For the middle-aged adult, exercise can reduce the risk of various health problems. Choose two at-risk health issues that regular physical exercise and activity can help prevent and manage. Discuss the prevalence of each of these health problems in society today. Describe measures that you would take as a nurse to assist clients with health promotion measures to incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives. Include the kind of activities you would recommend, the amount of exercise, and the approach you would use to gain cooperation from the client. Support your response with evidence-based literature.

Introduction

Regular physical exercise and activity are crucial for maintaining good health, particularly for middle-aged adults. Exercise can prevent or reduce the risk of various health problems. This paper will discuss two at-risk health issues that physical exercise can help prevent and manage. The paper will also describe the prevalence of these health problems in society today and measures that nurses can take to assist clients with health promotion measures to incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives.

At-risk Health Issues and Prevalence

The two at-risk health issues that regular physical exercise and activity can help prevent and manage are cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels, and it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CVD is responsible for 31% of all deaths globally. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing globally, and it is estimated that 1 in 11 adults have diabetes worldwide. In the United States, approximately 34.2 million people have diabetes, and an additional 88 million have prediabetes.

Measures to Assist Clients with Health Promotion

As a nurse, several measures can be taken to assist clients with health promotion measures to incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives. Nurses can provide education to clients about the benefits of exercise and physical activity for preventing and managing CVD and type 2 diabetes. Clients should be advised to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week. Additionally, clients should be encouraged to engage in resistance training exercises at least two days per week to improve muscle strength.

The approach used to gain cooperation from clients should be individualized and based on the client’s preferences, abilities, and health status. Nurses should work with clients to identify activities that they enjoy and can realistically incorporate into their daily routine. For example, clients who prefer outdoor activities may enjoy walking, hiking, or biking, while clients who prefer indoor activities may enjoy dancing, aerobics, or swimming. The amount of exercise should be gradually increased to prevent injury and avoid discouraging clients.

Evidence-Based Literature

A systematic review conducted by Kodama et al. (2014) found that physical activity can prevent and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The study reported that moderate-intensity physical activity for 150 minutes per week reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26%. Additionally, a meta-analysis conducted by Pattyn et al. (2013) found that regular exercise can improve cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure, improving lipid profiles, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.

Conclusion

Regular physical exercise and activity can help prevent and manage various health problems, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Nurses can play a crucial role in assisting clients with health promotion measures to incorporate exercise and physical activity into their lives. Nurses should provide education to clients about the benefits of exercise and work with clients to identify activities that they enjoy and can realistically incorporate into their daily routine. The approach used should be individualized, and the amount of exercise should be gradually increased to prevent injury and avoid discouraging clients. Evidence-based literature supports the benefits of physical exercise for preventing and managing various health problems.