As part of my unit 2 coursework in year 11 I am expected to complete another piece of coursework on the same case study making a realistic health plan, including 4 physical measurements and describe it and also describe the clients statistics and say how this is affecting their health and well being. I must also include realistic targets for the client to follow to help them improve their negative factors. Lastly I have to include feedback from the client.
One of the 4 physical measures that I will do for my case study is the blood pressure. Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. Blood pressure depends on the strength of the heart beat, thickness and the volume of the blood, the elasticity of the artery wall and the person’s general health. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers. For example the blood pressure could be 120 over 80. This could be written as 120/80mmHg. The first figure is the systolic blood pressure. This is the maximum pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pushes the blood out into the body. The second figure is the diastolic pressure and this is the minimum pressure of the arteries between the beats when the heart relaxes to fill itself with the blood. There are two types of blood pressures:
High Blood pressure and Low blood pressure. High Blood Pressure occurs when the blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure. Around 10 million people in the UK have high blood pressure. Blood pressure hardly ever causes symptoms. This means that we will not know about the high blood pressure until we have a stroke or a heart attack. Severe blood pressure can cause symptoms such as headaches, sleepiness, and confusion and high blood pressure can also lead to coma.
Another Physical measurement is the peak flow. Peak flow is the maximum speed at which someone can breathe out of their lungs (the lung capacity). Peak flow can be measured using a number of devices including a portable device called the peak flow meter or a spirometer. How fast the air goes in depends on how hard the person tries. People should use the peak flow meter as you will be able to tell what is going on in your breathing airways rather than guessing by how you feel. You can also find out if you are asthmatic and if the treatment that you are undergoing is having the effect that it should. You will also know if the treatment that you’re a re undergoing needs to be changed. And generally because your doctor or your nurse will be able to tell you how well you’ve been.
A peak flow meter is a small device that you blow into. It measures the fastest rate of air (airflow) that you can blow out of your lungs. It records airflow in litres per minute (l/min). Your doctor may prescribe you a peak flow meter if you have asthma. There are different brands of peak flow meter. They all do the same job. A peak flow meter can be used by most adults and children but for children who are over the age of 6. If you use a peak flow meter then the reading of the meter will vary according to your age, height and your gender. A 25 year old, who is 6’1″ tall to have an average peak flow reading of 627 litres, A 40 year old woman who is 5’2″ tall is expected to have an average peak flow reading of 427 litres per minute. A child who is between 6 and 15 years old and is 4’9″ is expected to have and average peak flow of 254 litres per minute.
My case study’s peak flow reading is: She is 5.3m and her reading is 410 litres. Another measurement that is physical is the Body Mass Index. Body Mass Index (BMI) is the measure of body fat based on the height and weight of both men and women. To calculate the body mass index you have to divide your body weight by the square of your height. BMI can be used to indicate is you are over weight, obese, under weight or normal.