Mr. Jones is a 75 year-old, African-American widower who is 5’9” tall and weighs

Question

Mr. Jones is a 75 year-old, African-American widower who is 5’9” tall and weighs 128 pounds. He lives alone in an apartment building in a large metropolitan city. Mr. Jones had been mostly dependent on his wife for shopping and fixing meals and has lost 15 pounds since her passing 5 months ago. He has no family, few friends, and his only income is social security ($500/month). He does not drive and does not like to take the bus. Mr. Jones wears dentures, frequently takes laxatives to relieve constipation, as well as aspirin (on a daily basis) as a preventative medication for heart disease. He is also taking medication for high blood pressure.

Question(s): 1. What are the lifestyle factors (cite two personal and/or environmental factors) that may be adversely affecting Mr. Jones’ nutritional status?

2. For each factor, explain the means by which it may affect nutritional status.

3.What could you recommend to Mr. Jones to help him address each of these factors?

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

1. The medications used by Mr. Jones and improper intake of food seem to adversely affect his nutritional status.

2. a. Homecooked meals differ from fast food meals in terms of serving size and overall nutritional value. Since Mr. Jones was dependent upon his wife for food preparation, his wife's death probably lead him to consume pre-prepared foods lacking sufficient nutrients.

b. Intake of aspirin on daily basis and medications for hypertension results in nutritional deficiencies.

Aspirin increases urinary excretion of vitamin C. Decreased vitamin status with respect to vitamin C as well as folate have been noted. Moreover, high blood Pressure medications cause vitamin deficiencies and can actually cause heart ailments.

3. The following factors can be recommended to Mr. Jones to help him address the issues:

a. Consumption of home made, nutritious food.

b. Alternative prevention methods to decrease the risk of heart disease.

Aspirin should not be used for the primary prevention of heart attacks and stroke, (as the potential benefit has not been shown to outweigh the risk of significant bleeding).

Phytonutrient in cherries with anti-inflammatory effects and tomatoes may work better than aspirin in the prevention of platelet activation, in part, perhaps, because compounds made by plants affect multiple platelet pathways simultaneously.

Exercise is a better alternative in controlling hypertension as opposed to medications.

i. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are often times the cause of high blood pressure in the first place.

ii. Food allergies can cause and or contribute to high blood pressure.

iii. Diets high in processed foods can cause high blood pressure

iv. Diets rich in potassium and magnesium (fruits and veggies) have been shown to dramatically reduce it.

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