The CVA-Elder Influence, Research Paper Example

During a neurological assessment of a 52 year old male you consider CVA as a potential diagnosis. Your determination of CVA in the differential diagnosis is based partially on the patients history of several risk factors for thrombosis (30 year/ 2 pack a day):

Studies have been conducted with several ethnicities and patient populations to demonstrate a correlation between the increased risk of stroke and long term smoking. These studies have indicated that current smokers have two to four times the chance of suffering from a stroke when compared directly to individuals who have never smoked or individuals who have smoked, but quit at least ten or more years before participating in the research (Shah & Cole, 2010). It has also been shown that atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and general damage to the arteries will predispose a smoker to lacunar stroke due to the blockage of large and small vessels in the circulatory walls. Also, fibrinolysis has been shown to be compromised and there is a known reduction of blood flow within the brain which is directly caused by vasoconstriction due to smoking and the lack of oxygen that results (Shah & Cole, 2010).

Describe one way an elderly family member has a positive influence on roles of family members of middle adult age (31-55):

It is important during this present day for society to have a sense of family, no matter what the age of the individual. Each person in society wants to belong and with the shifts in our environment causing individuals to live longer, elderly family members often find themselves as part of a family unit beside children and grandchildren. Often, this is inside the same home or nearby. These elderly individuals are often still in good health and can be of immense value to younger family members because the elderly family member has lived through hard times such as depressions, wars, and other life altering events. They can provide insight into ways to handle negative situations and offer positive advice and help to younger adults who find themselves working more hours in order to provide for the younger generation due to increased demands brought on by societal pressures (Antonucci & Wong, 2010; Thomas & Ganster, 1995).

Younger family members can look to the elderly members for advice, emotional support, and comfort because they know the older members have had their share of hard times and, although things have indeed been made easier due to technology, many things still remain the same in a sense (Antonucci & Wong, 2010). Elderly members can feel comforted as well because they know there are others around them to help if their health should decline and they are no longer capable of caring for themselves (Thomas & Ganster, 1995).

References

Antonucci, T., & Wong, K. (2010). Public health and the aging family. Public Health Reviews, 32(2), 512-531.

Shah, R., & Cole, J. (2010, July). Smoking and stroke: the more you smoke the more you stroke. Expert Reviews in Cardiovascular Therapy, 8(7), 917-932.

Thomas, L., & Ganster, D. (1995, February). Impact of family-supportive work variables on work-family conflict and strain: A control perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 80(1), 6-15.