Sample Lit Review on Hypertension free essay sample

2. Literature review This chapter reviews the literature on hypertension and hyperlipidaemia and their relation to risk factors including age, gender, genetics, diet and weight, alcohol, smoking, lack of activity and co-morbidity. It also examines mediating factors including economic factors, stress/personality, medications, lifestyle modifications and complementary therapies including foot reflexology and foot massage. Finally, it reviews outcomes (quality of life) including physiological, psychological and socioeconomic changes. 2. 1 Background to the literature reviewThe occurrence of hypertension, a chronic condition, is increasing in developing countries such as Thailand due to the sociological, political and economic changes and the associated alterations in people’s lifestyles. This follows similar trends in western countries (National Economic and Social Development Board 1997). These lifestyle changes can cause chronic health problems, as a result of poor habits in food and alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, smoking, and increased stress (National Economic and Social Development Board 1997). Data from an observational health survey in 1995 of Thai people aged 50 years and over demonstrated that the incidence of hypertension in urban females was 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Sample Lit Review on Hypertension or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 7 times that of rural females, for two age groups (less than 60 years of age, and 60 years or more). Similarly, for urban males it was 1. 7 and 1. 5 times that of rural males, for both age groups respectively (Chuprapawan et al 1995). 23In addition, age, gender, ethnicity, genetic background, family health history and dyslipidaemia are likely to influence hypertension (Kaplan, Lieberman Neal 2002; Mancia et al 2002; Manger Gifford 2001; National Heart Foundation of Australia 2003). People with a chronic disease may seek ways to reduce their suffering by using both conventional treatment and complementary therapies. Foot reflexology, one of the complementaryThe conceptual framework guiding this study is shown in Figure 2. 1. 24 Figure 2. 1 Study framework Risk factors gender Mediating factors Outcomes (quality of life) age medications genetics economic factors (financial difficulties) lifestyle modifications eg diet, level of activity physiological /pathological changes psychological changes diet/ weight stress/ personality alcohol/ smoking foot reflexology socioeconomic changes lack of activity co-morbidity 25 2. 2 Risk factors for hypertension and hyperlipidaemiaResearch has demonstrated that many factors including age, gender, genetics, diet, alcohol, smoking, lack of activity, and co-morbidity independently influence risk and also interact to contribute to hypertension or hyperlipidaemia. 2. 2. 1 Age and gender Increased age and male gender are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (National Heart Foundation of Australia 2003). Males have a gene that influences hypertension more than females, when compared at the same age; interestingly, however in postmenopausal women and men of the same age, there is no difference in findings (Williams et al 2000).