At 11:00 pm on
a Saturday night a 34 year old man was admitted to a hospital that was 4 miles
from his home. The man called 911 after
not being able to get up from his sofa.
When arriving at the hospital and being weighed, it was determined the
man weighed just over 800 pounds. The
hospital was far from equipped to handle someone of this size, but at the time,
no other medical facility could take him.
Two regular beds were tied together until a specialty bed could be
ordered. It took 7 staff members to
assist the patient in movement, as he was unable to get around at all on his
own.
This is a case
that takes some very critical thinking outside the box. A specialty bed was
ordered for the patient, which accommodated him much better than two beds
tied. Because of the small size of this
medical center, it was assumed the man would be transferred to a larger
hospital the following day.
Unfortunately the following day, as the doctors called hospital after
hospital, they all declined to accept the patient. He could not go back home, and he could not
even move, much less stand up. So the
work began.
Hours and
several days later a skilled nursing center agreed to take the patient. The transfer to the nursing center went fine,
and the patient was admitted with ease.
The facility has more equipped to help with transfers, etc. and the
patient was more comfortable. The
patient remained at the center for 14 months, and lost an amazing 319
pounds. He was eventually able to have
surgery to remove extra skin, which allowed him to fit an exercise plan into
his routine. He left the facility and
after having surgery, he was able to lose another 200 pounds. Today this gentleman speaks as a motivational
speaker, providing support to obese patients that have all but given up.
This story
ended well, but not all have this happy ending. Drug addiction and alcohol
addiction centers are readily available, yet this man with a food addiction had
to search and search for help. A program could consist of medical care,
therapy, nutrition support, and exercise.
Retraining the mind and body to a new way of living is never easy, but
it can be done, and should be done for those asking for help.
Risks Associated with Obesity
Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Problems in
Adults
Coronary Heart Disease
Obesity also
can lead to heart failure. This is a serious condition in which your heart
can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure
is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart
pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high, it can damage the body in
many ways.
Being
overweight or obese can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries.
Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form. If the clot is close to your brain, it can
block the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain and cause a stroke. The risk
of having a stroke rises as BMI increases.
Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2
diabetes, the body's cells don't use insulin properly. At first, the body
reacts by making more insulin. Over time, however, the body can't make enough
insulin to control its blood sugar level.
Diabetes is a leading cause of early death, CHD, stroke, kidney disease,
and blindness. Most people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
is a common joint problem of the knees, hips, and lower back. The condition
occurs if the tissue that protects the joints wears away. Extra weight can put
more pressure and wear on joints, causing pain.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in
breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.
Related: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Facts
Understanding Obesity
Many people do
not understand obese people. There is no
group of people in society that are ridiculed more, than obese people. While some people may be comfortable with
being overweight, most people are not content with being overweight, especially
if they are morbidly obese. Society in
general is more understanding of substance abuse patients, than of obese
patients, and while all patients seeking help should be recognized for their
efforts to get help, one group should not be penalized simply because their
addiction is food. A great saying to
remember when passing judgment is, “until you have walked in my shoes”.
If you know
someone that is obese and wants support, there are multiple sites that offer
emotional and nutritional support.
Related: List
of nursing organizations
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