Acute and Long-term Physical and Mental Health Conditions
Physical and mental health are related, and people who live with long-term health problems tend to have difficulties with their mental health. Some long-term conditions that are related to mental health include arthritis, diabetes, or even asthma. The relationship between physical and mental health grows strong when individuals are subjected to stigma and isolation due to their physical conditions. The feeling of loneliness may, in most cases, subject people to depression and stress, thus affecting their mental wellness negatively. Other factors, such as drug and substance abuse, may also lead to mental problems directly or indirectly. Mental illnesses occur in different forms, and some are deadlier than others. For example, stroke may be deadly when noticed late with the chances of causing death being higher than other mental conditions. Identifying the type of mental illness associated with a client takes some time. However, a procedural examination leads to a successful diagnosis, and eventually, the correct medication is prescribed.
A case is brought of a client in severe condition, with the first diagnosis showing that she has suffered from a stroke. Generally, a stroke occurs in two forms, although they appear to be similar. The first type of stroke is ischemic stroke and contributes to more than eighty percent of stroke cases. Ischemic stroke is similar to a heart attack, but the clotting occurs in the brain. Blood vessels clot leading to incomplete supply to the brain cells hence stroke. Also, the clotting may happen in other parts of the body, but the result is felt in the brain. The second type is a hemorrhagic stroke. Cases of hemorrhagic stroke are, however, few and are fatal when they occur. Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by rupture ore breakage of a blood vessel in the brain leading to blood seeping into the brain cells. Generally, hemorrhagic stroke is caused by high blood pressure and brain aneurysms.
One of the leading causes of stroke is smoking tobacco. The association between tobacco and stroke has continuously grown both between smokers and nonsmokers. Joan has reported being a heavy smoker, and her case can be associated with smoking behavior. Generally, both types of stroke may occur from tobacco use, and thus, Joan could be suffering from either of the forms of stroke. Also, Joan falls within the strong-dose class of smokers who are associated with a high risk of stroke (Markidan et al. 2018). The type of stroke that Joan is suffering, however, needs to be identified as soon as possible to identify the correct medication to administer. The information provided will be crucial in determining the type of stroke that has hit the client. Also, more information may be sought because the correct diagnosis depends on the amount of information available. Moreover, stroke is treated as an emergency, and care should begin immediately to avoid death from severe impacts.
Early diagnosis is crucial in ensuring improved quality of life as well as prolonging the life expectancy among individuals with long-term health conditions. Poor management of such conditions leads to severe conditions such as stroke and even death. In most cases, people fail to recognize the occurrence of such conditions due to several factors. For example, individuals may fail to differentiate between symptoms of aging and other disorders. Also, the lack of accessible professional services may lead to an untimely diagnosis of conditions leading to severe impacts on the affected individuals.
Moreover, insufficient training concerning the diagnosis of the various conditions may lead to late diagnosis where victims are unaware of the consequences of late diagnosis. Furthermore, victims may suffer from negative perceptions from the community, pushing them away from formal diagnosis. The provision of care for people with mental problems is always faced with several challenges; hence, the services are not easily accessible.
Stroke has been, in most cases, associated with a history of depression. Depression occurs when an individual is overwhelmed by thoughts and stress. Generally, depression cases are treated at general practice clinics, although severe cases are referred to specialists (Jaffre et al. 2015). The main reason for involving specialists is that individuals affected by depression may not realize until the situation has gotten out of hand. For example, not many people with depression accept that they need specialized care. The associated conditions when depression is allowed to take the better part of an individual are severe and need to be addressed at the early stages. Besides, depression is responsible for the highest number of mental disorders as well as mortality factors from mental issues. Therefore, care should be availed to take care of the patients who show symptoms of depression. For example, patients who have been diagnosed with stroke and a history of drug abuse should be checked for signs of depression. After addressing the relationship between the client’s case and depression, care will be offered according to the requirements.
A strong association between stroke and depression exists. Joan reports being a heavy smoker, although she does not admit to having a history of depression. However, the history of hypertension can be used as evidence for depression. Generally, high blood pressure happens when individuals are subjected to depression, and their blood pressure goes above the recommended rate. The case of Joan appears to have eventually led to a stroke, and she needs immediate care. Besides, the recovery of Joan from stroke will depend on the quality of care given and whether she responds positively to the care provided. Generally, Joan is at an age where she is expected to have fewer challenges in life, and the stress disturbing her could have been from her previous ages. However, conclusions should not be drawn without a proper interpretation of the evidence provided by Joan. The care provided is broken down into three aspects: interventions, organizational systems, and the quality of the relationship between Joan and the professionals in charge of her care program.
The care program for a patient with stroke is given from three aspects. The intervention process, the organizational framework of the facility offering care, and the relationship between the patient and the professions are the elements of a care program. Generally, stroke is treated as a long-term mental problem that occurs as a result of several mental challenges (Jaffre et al. 2015). Like most other mental conditions, stroke needs high-quality planned care instead of ad hoc care services. When the patient is admitted, one individual is tasked with overseeing the treatment process. The reason for entrusting one professional over a patient is to ensure that the treatment process is planned and that follow-up is done without compromise. The client is involved in the process to ensure that follow-up specifications are effective. Also, the engagement of the client prevents resistance that would impact the treatment process negatively.
The interventions required for the recovery of a patient who has a case of stroke are different for every patient. Interventions, however, range from social interventions to social interventions. Generally, two forms of intervention are available for stroke cases: anti-depressants and psychological therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy form part of the psychological approach to addressing long-term mental conditions. The success of the chosen approach, however, depends on the patient’s cooperation.
In most cases, the patient is allowed to choose the approach that fits the situation. Besides, both approaches have been found to have reliable outcomes when applied to cases of medical conditions such as stroke (Walker, Power & Gottesman, 2017). Moreover, the quality of care given, although relative, should be high.
The professional in charging of giving care is responsible for the quality of the care given. Generally, mental illnesses are sensitive, and patients should be handled with caution for successful results. Where high quality is the main objective of the care, the clinician should not be limited to providing care. Instead, the clinician is allowed to interact with the patient in a bid to help them with skills and advice concerning their mental condition. Generally, the provision of care should be aimed at equipping the patient with skills to address the current problem as well as avoid future complications and not just a care-provision experience that brings together the professional and the patient. Furthermore, high quality care is defined as the one that leads to a successful recovery of the patient. Generally, the patient should be comfortable with the care being provided. Moreover, acute deterioration and change in dependency are common among patients with cardiac-related ailments.
Stroke is related to cardiac failures, and thus, patients are highly associated with acute deterioration and dependency change. Patients regularly show dependency on various things that, when withdrawn, severe reactions may be witnessed. Addiction works as a cause for dependence where a patient may face severe body failures in the event, they fail to satisfy their addiction (Driscoll, Gregory, Fardy & Twells, 2016). Joan’s case is one where she appears to be addicted to smoking. Although the information provided does not show her attempts to quit smoking, there is evidence that Joan is struggling with smoking. An assessment is required to identify whether the patient’s smoking history is associated with the stroke that has just been diagnosed. If the smoking is found responsible, a further probe is required to check whether the patient attempted to quit the addiction or they over-used the drug. Then, Joan will be led through a process that will help her gradually quit smoking in a bid to save her life. Moreover, the deterioration rate of Joan’s health will be assessed to check for the risk of further complications.
The deterioration rate of a patient’s health is observed at least twenty-four hours before severe medical conditions. For example, Joan’s case should have been observed before she came to the hospital. However, the information provided is useful in assessing the rate of deterioration suffered. Joan reports having experienced numbness and other stroke-related symptoms several hours before visiting the clinic. The symptoms do not seem to have disappeared, and the Joan is even losing her voice. Therefore, immediate action is needed because her condition is deteriorating. Generally, the deterioration of Joan’s mental health requires close monitoring to avoid severe consequences. Also, the fact that one of Joan’s arms has grown weaker means that she needs help in undertaking various chores. As a professional, the care given to Joan will comprise of attempts to help her to overcome the challenges of heavy smoking and living with hypertension, which could be responsible for the current state of stroke.
The provision of care for patients with mental problems could have far-reaching risks. The patients, caregivers, and professionals in the clinical set-up face a wide range of risks that may result in severe consequences. First, the patients are at risk of being misunderstood by the caregivers and end up receiving inappropriate medication (Mah, 2017). The case of Joan represents the possibility of a risk of misdiagnosis. Generally, symptoms of a stroke are similar to other cardiac-related ailments. For example, Joan has a history of hypertension. The condition could be re-occurring, leading the earlier diagnosis to be viewed as a mistake. Also, Joan is at risk of receiving the wrong medication if the correct type of stroke is not identified. Generally, the patient is at risk of becoming a victim of professional negligence. On the other hand, caregivers are at risk of being harmed by the clients.
Long-term conditions tend to compromise the mental health of patients. The decision-making ability of a patient with mental problems could be compromised, making the patient a threat to the safety of the caregivers. Also, the professionals are always left to deal with patients without guarantee for their safety. The patients could turn violent, putting the lives of the professionals in danger. However, a well-planned care system takes into consideration all the risks expected from a particular case. Generally, the care should be given in stages, with patients having to go through all the stages. Joan has gone through the first stages and has met the A&E team, which has referred her to the GP surgery section. Only patients who cannot be attended successfully at the A&E section are referred to the GP surgery section. The provision of care to people with mental problems, therefore, requires planning beforehand to avoid the risks associated with poor management.
In sum, mental illnesses occur in different forms, and some are deadlier than others. For example, stroke may be deadly when noticed late with the chances of causing death being higher than other mental conditions. Stroke has been, in most cases, associated with a history of depression. As a professional, the care given to Joan will comprise of attempts to help her to overcome the challenges of heavy smoking and living with hypertension, which could be responsible for the current state of stroke. Generally, the provision of care to people with mental problems; therefore, it requires planning to avoid the risks associated with poor management.
References
Driscoll, S., Gregory, D. M., Fardy, J. M., & Twells, L. K. (2016). Long‐term health‐related quality of life in bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Obesity, 24(1), 60-70.
Jaffre, A., Ruidavets, J. B., Nasr, N., Guidolin, B., Ferrieres, J., & Larrue, V. (2015). Tobacco use and cryptogenic stroke in young adults. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 24(12), 2694-2700.
Mah, J. M. (2017). General health status after nonoperative versus operative treatment for acute, complete acromioclavicular joint dislocation: results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Journal of orthopaedic trauma, 31(9), 485-490.
Markidan, J., Cole, J. W., Cronin, C. A., Merino, J. G., Phipps, M. S., Wozniak, M. A., & Kittner, S. J. (2018). Smoking and risk of ischemic stroke in young men. Stroke, 49(5), 1276-1278.
Walker, K. A., Power, M. C., & Gottesman, R. F. (2017). Defining the relationship between hypertension, cognitive decline, and dementia: a review. Current hypertension reports, 19(3), 24.