Tobacco Smoking among the Elderly - Book Report/Review Example

Tobacco Smoking among the Elderly affiliation Tobacco Smoking among the Elderly Cigarette smoking has on many occasions turned into a point of debate and the United States Government has tried to find means to reduce smoking but with minimal success. It is relatively clear that smoking causes harm to smokers, partial-smokers, and non-smokers. Curative steps have been taken to reduce the smoking effects such as smoking cessation through specialized advices. This essay highlights smoking among the elderly population and gives guidelines and recommendations to deal with the problematic tobacco use and its products. Introduction Definition of smoking Smoking is the habit of inhaling and exhaling a burning tobacco’s smoke wrapped in cigarettes. Smoking is a negative habit that has a physical addiction due to the nicotine ingredient in the tobacco. The fume from tobacco is a mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals with many being toxic. Overview of the prevalence of smoking risk factor in the population In 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a report showed that there was frequent smoking in 19.3% of adults aged eighteen years and above (Chaney, 2012). Tobacco smoking is the main preventable cause of premature death and accounts for 4430,000 deaths. Nearly 900,000 deaths are associated with lung cancer due to smoking; while closely to a million deaths occur in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( Lewis, 2013). In the United States, smoking of cigarettes is in the forefront in causing diseases and deaths, and it’s the leading risk factor the lung cancer and is associated with nearly 90% of lung cancer. Vulnerable Population, ethnic differences, and the Aging Population Due To Smoking In 2013, a projection by the Center for Disease and Control shows that, 17.8% of entire United States adults are present tobacco smokers. The top prevalence of ethnic smokers were the American Indians at 26.1 %, trailed by non-Hispanic Asians at 9.6%. Non-Hispanic blacks are at 18.3%, Hispanics at 12.1%, non-Hispanic Whites at 19.4%, and 26.8% of non-Hispanic multiple race persons. In relation to smoking prevalence that is based on education and gender, 41.4% of those who attained GED certificate topped the group, 24.2% of persons with lesser education years, and 22.0% with high school diplomas. 20.9% are people with no diploma, 17.8% with an associate’s degree, 9.1% with an undergraduate college degree and the least were the graduate degree persons at 5.6%. Thus, research shows that people with higher levels of education have a lower prevalence of smoking. Adult men topped by 20.5% as compared to the females at 15.3%. Persons between the ages of 25 to 44 years topped at 20.8%, 8.8% persons at the ages of 65 years and older were the least smokers. According to CDC, at present, smoking has dropped to 20.9% in 2005 to almost 17.8% in 2013. The result on health due to smoking tobacco is cumbersome to the Western population and particularly the older age groups, as diseases linked to smoking are chronic and requires long periods of development. Thus, it’s more apparent to deal with the problems of smoking in an aging population (Guliš, 2014). Healthy people 2020: Goals about tobacco use Healthy People 2020 are an initiative by the federal government and comprise health goals for the American citizens (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Thus, this document is crafted from the former government initiatives aimed at guiding the action that would enhance the country’s health (Truglio-Londrigan, 2013).Thus, to achieve this goal by the year 2020 for Americans, Healthy People 2020 have framed a step in progressively bring the change in the communal health status. It is by rallying associates, evaluating the community’s needs, crafting and employing a plan to reach the target goal and follow the plan’s development along the course According to the goal set in relation to tobacco use and secondhand exposure means that there will be a decline in the cases of infections, disabilities, and deaths. Since exposure to secondhand smoke means there are no risk-free levels; in adults, it causes the infection of the heart and lung cancer. Health problems associated with secondhand smoking in youngsters, for example, asthma attack, respiratory and ear infections (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Causes of smoking Smoking is an addiction that is very hard to stop, and many people start smoking when they are teenagers and this habit continues to adulthood. Young people may smoke to look mature, experiment or due to peer pressure while older people may experience pressures and stress due to both personal and economic issues. Many people are also attracted to start smoking because of influences from the advertisements put out by cigarette manufacturers in the media. Diseases that can occur if smoking is not addressed and treated appropriately Tobacco is one of the top causes of preventable death that kills millions of people every year worldwide. It causes a higher risk of various chronic disorders developing because of smoking. Such disorders include cardiovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, and peptic ulcer disease. Others include; gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, periodontitis, cataracts, chronic abdominal aneurysm, and various kinds of lung cancer, and atherosclerosis. Smoking causes the risk of both heart disease and heart attack even when it is exposed to non-smokers. Smoking causes a depressant relaxation effect, and it is a risk factor for cancer, coronary artery disease, and COPD developments. Tobacco smoke consists of toxic gas and when inhaled it causes bronchi constriction, cilia paralysis, distal airways dilation and destroys the walls of alveolar. As a component of cigarette fumes, carbon monoxide mixes with nicotine, and combines with hemoglobin in the bloodstream and decreases the blood’s ability to carry oxygen (Lewis, 2013). Smoking does not only affect adults but also affects the unborn fetus. If pregnant women smoke, they increase the risk of infant death, early delivery (prematurity), Miscarriage, low birth weight, and stillbirth. Estimates show that if all pregnant women avoid smoking, approximately 4000 new babies will not die every year. Special Concern of Smoking for the Elderly The consequences of diseases related to tobacco and a huge cost of financing systems such as the Health Care and Welfare Social Security is to pay for disability benefits for crippled persons, coupled with aged Americans makes the subject regarding tobacco a legal and policy issue. For both smokers and non-smokers, tobacco is a public policy and legal issue. ETS has raised a concern regarding 70 million American citizens in the ages of 50 years and above due a higher respiratory and heart problems prevalence. To ensure health for the elderly, both the state and local federal policies have created free smoking zones. There is little research that exists regarding tobacco issues and the elderly, and less attention is paid specific issues regarding legal and public policy that links tobacco and the elderly. Appropriate nursing interventions that can be used to address the risk From the training achieved, nurses are responsible for assisting persons to end the bad habit of smoking. According to the joint commission, every nurse is assigned a task of recognizing a tobacco user and offers them information on how to quit. The majority of health care facilities are tobacco-free. Thus, hospitalization of the ill patient may motivate them to quit smoking coupled with brief advices given as compared to those who are not hospitalized (Lewis, 2013). The role of the nurse when a patient is ready and willingness to quit Tobacco is very addictive which makes it hard for patients to quit it. Many users make a number of attempts to quit tobacco use, but these efforts are usually hampered in cases where they do not get assistance. Nurses have key roles in helping patients to quit tobacco. Among the main strategies that are used by the nurse is counseling to change their behavior. The strategy expects nurses to encourage specificity by patients regarding what, when, and how he or she plans to make this change happen. It then expects nurses to encourage their patients not to give up and include them in behavioral therapy. In exceptional cases, nurses are required to administer medication to patients who suffer from the effects of tobacco. Regarding the case of quitting patients who are aged adult, nurses have the responsibility to record the day of quitting, removing every tobacco product from the reach of the adult, especially if they are under the care of the nurse at a home. Nurses also have the responsibility to inform both the family and friends of the intention (Mauk, 2013). Summary of the Articles Evidence-Based Treatments for Smoking Cessation Based on the information from the article, it’s notable that what the authors have clearly stated is that the dangers of smoking are very well known. Tobacco smoking is the main preventable cause causes premature death and has led to 443,000 deaths. A lot of deaths are associated with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking cessation lowers the risk of one getting a chronic infection. Counselling by the nurses is the best tool to address the issue of quitting smoking. Interventions to trigger quit attempts According to this article, nurses are the principal group in the medical profession who has the responsibility of ensuring that patients are helped to quit smoking. Their training coupled with adequate medicines to quit are rampant in the United Kingdom to stop smoking cessation. Smoking is both a societal and economic burden with massive finances used to address this issue. Nevertheless, people still continue to smoke and the nurses in the medical health are in a position to assist people to quit smoking. Smoking causes premature death and accounts leads to fatalities. Prolonged smoking leads to diseases such as cancer, and chronic conditions. The ageing population particularly the elderly is prone to smoking and its side effects. A lot of attention should be paid to the elderly and safe handling of the aged people should be addressed due to the nature of their age. Smoking-Cessation Counselling by Nurses According to this article, nurses have a responsibility in assisting the smoking individuals to end the bad habit by offering advice and counseling sessions. Smokers should also be ready and willing to quit the bad habit in order to prevent the consequences associated with smoking. Hospitalization is an important mean to help the patients to quit smoking. Patients are more responsive as a result of efforts to stop smoking. Urgencies that involve smoking cessation should be considered, thus, hospitals will enable population health by lowering smoking. How the information presented might change the delivery of care for patients who smoke Delivery of patient care is based on the evidence described in the three articles. The recommendations give an emphasis on the importance of being able to identify all smokers and advising them to stop smoking and be in a position to determine the willingness of the patient to try an attempt to stop. Furthermore, patients who are not willing to end smoking require interventions in the form of motivation in order to promote successive efforts to quit this habit. If a person is willing to quit smoking clinicians in primary care can come into assistance. The information is crucial because it can help in better understanding patients and the best ways of helping them. Advantages of Quitting Smoking Quitting smoking reduces the chances of a person dying since one out each six men die in the United States due to smoking-related diseases. Men who quit smoking by the time they are 30 years, add ten years to their lives. Those who quit at the age of 60 add three years to their lives. They mainly avoid diseases like lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease. Quitting smoking also helps people breathe easier and cough less because it improves their lung capacity. Those who kick the habit also have whiter teeth because it stops teeth from becoming stained. Patients are less likely to get gum diseases and lose their teeth. Health improvements after patients stop smoking Some of the health improvements enjoyed by ex-smokers include reduced risks of getting a heart attack. It enhances easier breathing because the lung capacity is improved by ten%and increase the mental health. Researches show that levels of stress are low after smokers stop the bad habit. Treatment/ Techniques used to stop smocking Quitting smoking is very tough because nicotine is highly addictive. However, smokers have a number of options that make the process easier. The easiest method is avoiding smoking triggers like peer pressure through distraction and getting out of a tempting situation. Other methods include; Non-nicotine medication Smoking cessation medications can help patients reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. The method is most effective when used as part of the comprehensive program that is monitored by a physician. Some medications which are used in the short-term include verenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban). Nicotine replacement therapy Nicotine replacement therapy is an option that involves replacing cigarettes with nicotine substitutes, such as nicotine patch and nicotine gum. This method is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that works by delivering small amounts of nicotine in the body. It aims at relieving some withdrawal symptoms without the poisonous gases and tars found in cigarettes. The method aims at helping patients focus on breaking their psychological addiction and concentrate of learning coping skills and new behaviors. Alternative therapies There are alternative treatment methods that do not involve prescription medication of nicotine replacement therapy. Hypnosis is one of the most popular methods that can produce good results. Hypnosis works by getting the patient into a deeply relaxed state where he/she is open to suggestion that strengthens his/her desire to quit smoking and increase the negative feeling towards cigarettes. The second alternative is acupuncture which is the oldest known technique. It works by triggering the release of natural pain relievers (endorphins) that help the body relax. Acupuncture helps in managing smoking withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine addiction in some patients is closely related to their habitual behaviors that are related to smoking, such as, drinking alcohol. Behavior therapy, the third alternative, focuses on breaking those habits and learning new coping skills. Finally, motivational therapies aims at finding a motivational factor that will help a patient quit smoking. One way is calculating the monetary saving as a result of quitting the habit. Conclusion Tobacco smoking remains one of the key legally allowed user goods that are deadly when persons use it as envisioned. Its negative effects on health are high as it is the source of destruction of each organ in a person’s body. Nevertheless, it’s mainly damaging to the lungs causing cancer, diseases, and numerous cardiovascular systems. Roughly half of the smokers that have been practicing the habit die early. It is projected that typically; cigarette smoking decreases life expectancy of persons by an enormous percentage. The Increase in the use of all methods of tobacco have severe consequences and has the possibility to act as an entry drug for other stuffs. For these negative reasons, it is important that society speaks the deadly issues related to tobacco use. References Bergman, S. B.-B. (1996). TOBACCO. A LEGAL AND POLICY ISSUE OF THE ELDERLY. Chaney, S. E. (2012). Evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation. Nursingcenter.com, 24-31. Guliš, G. Et. Al. (2014). Assessment of Population Health Risks of Policies. New York: Springer Publishers. Lewis, S., Et. Al. (2013). Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems ... New York: Elsevier. Mauk, b. K. (2013). Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care. New York: Library of Congress. Truglio-Londrigan, M. (2013). Public Health Nursing: Practicing Population-based Care. New York: Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC. US Department of Health and Human Services (2015) Healthy People 2020 Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/healthy_people/hp2020.htm Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/topicsobjectives2020 Read More