Ms. Larsen Case Study

 Ms. Larsen Case Study

Ethnicity/Culture/Socioeconomic Status

Ethnicity underscores a people’s way of life and shared culture; this includes religion, language, history, and culture (Lyla, 2016). The differences in life expectancy, health outcomes, and health status are among the common health indicators in various ethnic and racial groupings. Some people in specific ethnic groups, particularly the minorities, receive inadequate care, lack the access to resources, and generally live shorter livers than their counterparts. Epidemiological data also reveals that ethnic groupings are unequally impacted by illnesses, in terms of mortality and morbidity. People who share a common genetic makeup may also share a unique resistance or propensity to particular diseases (Lyla, 2016).

Lyla (2016) defines the term culture as the unique shared practices, beliefs, and values which are indirectly linked to a specific behavior, directly linked to health-related behaviors, influence the adoption and acceptance of the health education data. Religious beliefs, such as fasting among the Muslim community, may trigger the severity of various medical conditions, for instance, diabetes. According to Lyla (2016), this Islamic religious practice may impact a diabetic patient’s glucose levels negatively (hypoglycemia). Dietary patterns adopted by different cultures, for instance, Hispanics, can also cause the onset of various chronic diseases, such as stroke, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Lyla (2016) also indicates that traditional therapeutic practices by minority communities, such as the Indian Natives, and the attitudes towards modern treatment approaches and various diseases may also play a critical role in facilitating the onset of chronic illnesses.

Socioeconomic status relates to the measure of a person’s combined social and economic status. According to Lyla (2016), economic and social factors, such as social supports, community safety, employment, education, and income, can significantly influence one’s way of living and the likelihood of exposure to chronic diseases. The factors mentioned above impact an individual’s capacity to make healthy choices, manage stress, access medical care, and afford basic needs, such as housing. Lyla (2016) associates socioeconomic status with a broad range of health issues, for instance, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, CVD, and high mortality rates.

Ms. Larsen’s place of residence is situated in a small rural community; this may impact her capacity to access quality health care to manage her underlying health conditions effectively. The patient’s behavior, for instance, smoking, neglect, and the failure to comply with the health care provider’s instructions regarding the management of her underlying conditions (diabetes and hypertension), also plays a crucial role in influencing the severity of her poor health status. The elements mentioned above highlight the cultural factors that impact the incidence of chronic diseases.

Cellular Changes

Tobacco smoke has many toxic chemicals; these chemicals include cyanide, arsenic, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and nicotine. These toxic chemicals are usually transferred from one’s into one’s bloodstream, where they change and damage one’s body cells (Martin, Hallevi, & Barreto, 2018). These modifications to one’s cells may increase an individual’s stroke risks. Smoking can impact the patient’s level of cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol is an essential substance in the body; however, high cholesterol levels in an individual’s blood can trigger stroke and heart diseases. According to Satue, Vila, Ochoa, and Diego (2016), smoking decreases the amount of HDL in one’s bloodstream and elevates the amount of LDL in the bloodstream. Significant increases in the level of HDL in an individual’s bloodstream increases one’s risk of exposure to stroke. The inhalation of cigarette smoke triggers the availability of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and smoke in the patient’s bloodstream. Carbon monoxide decreases oxygen levels in one’s blood, while nicotine causes significant increases in one’s heartbeat rate; this subsequently raises the patient’s blood pressure, thereby increasing the likelihood of stroke. Satue et al. (2016) indicate that smoking can cause atrial fibrillation episodes, a condition that increases the possibility of stroke. The chemicals contained in tobacco smoke increase the likelihood of clot formation, thereby increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. The formation of a clot in an artery that leads to the brain can trigger a stroke, especially when the clot hinders the supply of blood to a section of the brain; this form of stroke is identified as isc