It is National Safety Month, and how could this important event be celebrated better than by kicking off this issue of HHN featuring health promotion. The 2 initiatives go hand in hand. Although deaths from unintentional injury have been reduced by almost half in the past century, more than 33 million people, about 1 in 9, sought medical treatment for nonfatal injuries in 2005. In 2006, more than 26 million disabling injuries and deaths occurred, costing an estimated $652 billion and making unintentional injury the fifth leading cause of death, exceeded only by heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory disease (National Safety Council, 2008). Health promotion interventions can reduce the risk factors associated with each of these 5 leading causes of death.
We as home care professionals often "talk the talk" regarding health promotion, offering our patients health promotion teaching interventions, but what does that really mean? Certainly, we can see from the aforementioned injury statistics that safety interventions are of vital concern in health promotion efforts, and evidence-based health promotion interventions are being published almost faster than we can keep up with them-interventions related to diet, exercise, and a positive attitude, to name just a few.
The Adventist Health Study (Fraser, 2001; Willet, 2003), a longitudinal lifestyle study of Seventh-Day Adventists, has demonstrated that maintaining lean body weight throughout life is central to optimal health, and that nut consumption (yes, NUTS!!) is highly correlated with a decrease in coronary artery disease. In addition, choices regarding diet, exercise, cigarette smoking, body weight, and hormone replacement therapy, in combination, appear to increase life expectancy by almost 10 years.
Other large longitudinal studies have demonstrated the effects of lifestyle on healthy aging and longevity. The New England Centenarian Study (Boston University Medical Center, retrieved March 5, 2008) found that although centenarians are a very diverse group, they do have a number of characteristics in common, namely, lean body weight, no smoking, and better ability to handle stress. The Nun Study (Snowdon, 2001; Tyas, Snowdon, Desrosiers, Riley, & Markesbery, 2007) continues to show the importance of a positive spirit, a sense of "community," and faith in preventing mental and physical decline in later life.
As we know, health promotion encompasses many facets. In this issue of HHN, it is represented by diverse articles. Three continuing education articles, "Managing the Threat of Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccocus aureus in Home Care," "Toward a Better Understanding of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis," and "Type 2 Diabetes: The Many Facets of Care," are included, as well as an article on promoting spiritual health and an article on the importance of listening entitled "Someone Important Is Talking." Also included is an innovative educational tool for teaching wound care competencies.
It's almost mid-2008. Instead of just "talking the talk" of health promotion, let's together vow to set an example for our patients and to begin "walking the walk." You can begin with something simple. Add nuts to your diet. Walk around the block every morning, evening, or both. Reframe a problem so it becomes a challenge and less of a "stressor." It's a start, and you will be on your way to practicing what you preach and "walking the walk!!"
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