VIII. Ecologic Model

A. Hypothesis

Cardio Vascular Accident also known as Stroke is the sudden loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply in the brain. The model used predicts the cause of illness rather than showing the promotion of wellness. Yet it is a fact that agent, host, and environment are interrelated to each other weather to promote wellness or factors that causes illness; health is an ever changing state.

In line to the statement above the client has sedentary lifestyle that contributes to his illness. Other factors such as old age, stressful environment and familial history of hypertension are risk factors for him to have Stroke.

B. Predisposing Factors

Host

Family has history of hypertension Age

Agent

Eating habits of the client Lifestyle of the client

Environment

Socio-Economic – the client belongs to poor family Biologic – the client was stressed according to him

CCC. Ecologic ModelCAge of the client

Familial Hx of HPNPN

Sedentary Lifestyle

Unhealthy Eating Habits

Stress

The Web model shows the relationship among the three predisposing factors mainly agent, host and environment which also determine their imbalance that may lead to an occurrence of a disease.

This primarily talks of the multiple causation of the disease. The diagram below shows the possible imbalance of the predisposing factors.

D. Analysis

Cerebrovascular accident or stroke (also called brain attack) results from sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, which precipitates neurologic dysfunction lasting longer than 24 hours. Stroke are either ischemic, caused by partial or complete occlusions of a cerebral blood vessel by cerebral thrombosis or embolism or hemorrhage (leakage of blood from a vessel causes compression of brain tissue and spasm of adjacent vessels). Hemorrhage may occur outside the dura (extradural), beneath the dura mater (subdural), in the subarachnoid space (subarachnoid), or within the brain substance itself (intracerebral).

Risk factors for stroke include transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) – warning sign of impending stroke – hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, elevated cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, obesity, carotid stenosis, polycythemia, hormonal use, I.V., drug use, arrhythmias, and cigarette smoking.

E. Conclusion

The case of the client is mainly caused by his lifestyle, while age and familial history of hypertension contributes to his illness as well. In addition his feeling of stress because of his children was also considered as one of the risk factor to his case.

F. Recommendation

Stroke can be prevented by avoiding things that causes such disease which are called “risk factors” such as smoking, foods with high cholesterol, uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension. All strokes can be prevented but needs the compliance and cooperation of the client. Taking medications that serve as maintenance, low fat diet, avoiding stressful environment and lifestyle, regular exercise are small price to pay for the wellness of being. At the same time modification of lifestyle including drinking enough amount of water (at least 8 glasses) a day, limiting intake of soft drinks and salty foods, and eating a lot of vegetables as well as fish (which means decrease consumption of cholesterol laden foods) is highly recommended to alleviate if not eradicate the condition of the patient. In addition, regular checkups would monitor the patient’s health condition and would more likely prevent the aggravation of the disease.