Underage drinking Essay Summary Example For Students

Underage drinking Essay Summary Consequences of Underage Alcohol UseAlcohol is the most widely used drug among youth. It causes serious and potentially life-threatening problems for this population. Research indicates that drinking is associated with risk-taking and sensation-seeking behavior among adolescents. Alcohol has disinhibiting effects that may increase the likelihood of unsafe activities.In 1997, 21 percent of the young drivers 15 to 20 years old who were killed in crashes were intoxicated. For young drivers, alcohol involvement is higher among males than among females. In 1997, 25 percent of the young male drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking at the time of the crash, compared with 12 percent of the young female drivers involved in fatal crashes.According to national data, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among adolescents and young adults. Factors contributing to youth drowning include alcohol which can severely affect a swimmers coordination and judgment. Forty to 50 percent of young males who drown were drinking when they died, and an equal percentage of all diving accidents are alcohol related.Approximately 240,000 to 360,000 of the nations 12 million current undergraduates will ultimately die from alcohol-related causes. We will write a custom essay on Underage drinking Summary specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now People who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until age 21. Each additional year of delayed drinking onset reduces the probability of alcohol dependence by 14 percent.Adolescents who drink heavily assume the same long-term health risks as adults who drink heavily. This means they are at increased risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, hemorrhagic stroke, and certain forms of cancer.Adolescents who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age, to have sex more often, and to engage in unprotected sex, which places them at greater risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.One study showed that students diagnosed with alcohol abuse were four times more likely to experience major depression than those without an alcohol problem.Alcohol use among adolescents has been associated with considering planning, attempting, and completing suicide. Research does not indicate whether drinking causes suicidal behavior, only that the two behaviors are correlated.Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to serious and permanent brain damage in the unborn child. This can result in mental retardation and severe emotional problems as the child grows up. A lower dosage of alcohol will damage a young brain compared to a fully mature brain, and young brains are damaged more quickly. Alcohol exposure during adolescence is linked with a reduced ability to learn compared with those not exposed until adulthood.Alcohol is implicated in more than 40 percent of all college academic problems and 28 percent of all college dropouts. At both 2- and 4-year colleges, the heaviest drinkers make the lowest grades.High school students who use alcohol or other substances are five times more likely than other students to drop out of school or to believe that earning good grades is not important.About half of college students who are victims of crime are drinking when they are victimized.In a high percentage of serious crimes, alcohol is found in the offender, the victim, or both, and alcohol-related problems are disproportionately found in both juvenile and adult offenders.Ninety-five percent of violent crime on college campuses is alcohol related, and 90 percent of college rapes involve alcohol use by the victim and assailant.

Financial analysis and comparison of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola The WritePass Journal

Financial analysis and comparison of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Introduction Financial analysis and comparison of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola IntroductionReferences:Related Introduction Together both PepsiCo and Coca Cola are both companies that are known around the world for their goods. For decades now, these companies have been competitive against each other to â€Å"do better than† the other one, what some would call the â€Å"cola wars†. They individually offer a assortment of soft drinks; regular, diet, caffeine free and many other options for the public to choose from. Both of the companies also have quite a few different entities (or off springs) of their company, such as bottled water, energy drinks, and juices. Individually both PepsiCo and Coca Cola; better known as Pepsi and Coke, have produced goods for every income bracket. Inside this essay we will take a look into the two largest competing companies in the soft drink industry; Coca Cola and PepsiCo. Using financial data provided from 2004 and 2005, we will be able to use financial analysis, both vertical and horizontal, to verify the financial differences between the two companies. We should be able to make proper suggestions and recommendations with the review on both of the individual companies, income statements and balance sheets. The soft drink industry is one of the largest and assorted industries in the world; consumption in the United States alone is rated at 95%. Together Pepsi and Coke have dominated the soft drink industry, staying higher than any other competition for decades. Not only have they dominated the national market, but also have dominated the global market. Pepsi and Coke have triumphed over many obstacles, so that they may produce and distribute products in most countries around the globe. Both employ a strategy called â€Å"the follow up strategy†. When one launches a new product or service, the other is not far behind with a similar product or service. This strategy has been so effective within these two companies that it leaves other would be competitors oblivious to what just happened. Because of global success, both PepsiCo and Coca Cola have paid a price in one way or another regarding legal issues, precedents, and political opinions. Both of these companies are great examples that the power of influence is leadership. Since their influence is so powerful, they easily shut down competitors in the market as well as keep their moral and ethical values at a soaring level. According to the Forbes Super500 list of America’s largest public companies in 2003, both Coke and Pepsi are practically the same size. Pepsi was the 43rd-largest U.S. firm, just barely edging out Coke, which ranked 44th. This comparison was based on ranking sales, profits, market value and assets. Now let’s take a look at a more detailed comparison of these two companies. Within this analysis, the numbers will be represented in millions (100 is equal to 100 million). Beginning with a vertical analysis, used to do the comparison of the asset accounts categories, liability account categories, and the reports on liability accounts against asset accounts on the balance sheet. The principle for calculating a vertical analysis is current assets à · total assets. The starting point lies within the total assets for each company. In 2004, PepsiCo’s total assets were $27,987; in 2005 they totaled $31,727. Coca Cola’s assets were $31,441 for 2004 and $29,427 in 2005.   (Weygandt, Kimmel, Kieso, 2008). Now we must look at statistics on the balance sheets of each corporation. In 2004, Coke’s cost of merchandise sold were $7,674 equaling a ratio percentage of 24.4% of their total assets. In 2005 the cost of merchandise sold were $8,195 equaling 27.8% of the total assets. For Pepsi’s cost of merchandise sold, the totals were $12,674 equaling 45.3% in 2004 and $14,176 equaling 44.7% in 2005. Over a one year span the results of; PepsiCo had an increase of 5%, while Coke had an increase that year of 3.4%.   With this increase, the results do not necessarily mean a positive analysis, since the single figure does not disclose whether the increase is a positive measure.   A higher cost of sales may not be offset by higher revenues matching or exceeding the increased cost. Net income of PepsiCo in 2004 was $4,212 equaling a ratio percentage of 15.1% of total assets. In 2005, their net income was $4,078 equaling a ratio percentage of 13.2% of their total assets. This shows a 1.9% decrease in their net income between 2004 and 2005. Within the same period they also showed a decrease in the cost of sales. Coke on the other hand had a net income of $4,847 in 2004 equaling a ratio percentage of 15.4%. In 2005 their net income was $4,872 equaling a ratio of 16.6% of their total assets. This shows and an increase of 1.2% between 2004 and 2005.   Even though they experienced an increase of 1.2%, the increase of cost of merchandise sold had an increase of 3.4% only nets an additional 1.2%, making this a negative indication for Coca Cola. When comparing current assets and current liabilities to the total assets by taking a closer look at the consolidated balance sheets of these two companies for each year show that Pepsi’s total current assets were $8,639, in 2004, which equals a ratio percentage of 30.9% of total assets (for that year). For 2005, PepsiCo’s total current assets were $10,454 which equals a ratio percentage of 32.9% of total assets. From 2004 to 2005, they had an increase of 2% in their current assets. In contrast Coca Cola’s current assets were $12,281 equaling a ratio percentage of 39.1% for 2004 and $10,250 equaling a ratio percentage of 34.8%, in 2005; this shows a major decrease in their current assets. Although, there was a considerable decrease in their current assets, there was also a decrease in their current liabilities. These decreases in liabilities would be a positive indication for Coke instead of a negative one. In the area of current liabilities, we can see that in 2004 Pepsi’s total was $6,752 equaling 24.1%, and $9,406 equaling 29.9% in 2005. This shows that the increase of 2% within Pepsi’s assets is due to the company taking on more liabilities. Coke however had current liabilities of $11,133 equaling 35.4% in 2004, and $9,836 equaling 33.4% in 2005 which shows a decrease of 1% in their liabilities. This simply states that both companies had a larger percentage of liabilities to assets in 2005, compared to 2004 also taking into account that their current assets dropped 4.3%. To break that down even further, we look at the following figures. Coca Cola had a total liability in 2004 of $15,506 which equals 49.3% and in 2005 their total liabilities were $13,072 which equals 44.4%. That is a decrease in their liabilities of 4.9%. So while their assets dropped by 4.3%, their liabilities dropped even more. Horizontal analysis is the comparison of specific items account for a certain amount of numbers for the accounting period. This helps to determine the increase or decrease that has occurred by a percentage, a numerical change or trends over that time. There are two formulas that can be used to get this analysis. The first formula uses the current year amount and subtracts from that the base year amount, then take the difference and divide it by the base year amount.   The second formula divides the current year amount by the base year amount.   This gives the current yearly figure in a percentage for the given base year. PepsiCo’s total current assets for 2004 were $8,639 and $10,454 in 2005. The first horizontal analysis formula shows Pepsi had an increase of 121.01% of total current assets; over their 2004 base year figure. Coke’s total assets for 2004 were $12,281 and $10,250 for 2005 which shows a considerable loss. With these numbers it produces a loss percenta ge of 16.58% between 2004 (83.46%) and 2005. Moving onto liabilities, Coca Cola had $11,133 in total liabilities for 2004 and $9,836 for 2005, yielding a difference of 88.35% decreasing their liabilities by 11.65% from 2004 to 2005. For PepsiCo, their total liabilities for 2004 were $6,752 and $9,406 in 2005. Following the formula we can see that it shows an increase in their liabilities by 139.3% from 2004 to 2005, so for one year the total is 39.9%. Mutually PepsiCo and Coca Cola have reputations for being the major contenders in the soft drink industry. They have individually created well organized, strong, and profitable companies, but as you can see from the analysis done above that the financial data, shows a bit of a difference between the two financially. I can see adjustments that can be made and areas that can be worked on, and below I have made a few suggestions for the data I found. It can be determined from the information above that the net profits for both companies were less in 2005 than that of 2004. The operating expenses for both companies were higher in 2005 then 2004. Individually Pepsi and Coke should be working to decrease operation expenses and to increase profitability. Within Coca Cola, they suffered a decline in assets (4.3%) and their liabilities reduced by 4.9% from 2004 to 2005. The suggestion that I make for Coca Cola is they continue to reduce their liabilities, and work on raising net profits. This will increase their assets, As for Pepsi, they have a small increase in current assets between 2004 and 2005, but they had a substantial increase in liabilities. With a 5.8% increase in liabilities, there was only an increase of 2% within their assets. A suggestion I can make for PepsiCo is to focus efforts on their assets, to reduce their liabilities, and to not collect new liabilities. This way they can increase profitability. Looking into other years and comparisons, I see that Coca Cola gathers almost 53% of their annual revenue during spring and summer, whereas Pepsi seems to produce 30% more revenue in the later months of the year.   This is likely due to the fact that Pepsi also has snack (chips, etc) operations other than soft drinks, which is the preferred food of the season. There is also the topic of franchise systems. Pepsi has had success in the past with its franchise system; however, in recent years it has become a weakness for the company. The franchises   influence profits and revenues for Pepsi. My solution would be to dismantle the franchise system and replace it with one bottling unit. This will help Pepsi to eliminate competition with any private label companies and keep them on the forefront with Coke. Coca Cola believes in reinvesting into their infrastructure and does not operate a franchise system. When it comes to figures, Pepsi seems to have more advantages (other entities), whereas Coke is getting better figures.   This does not mean either company is better than the other, it shows that there is a tight competition between both companies and both are striving to surpass the other. References: PepsiCo.com. (2009).   Retrieved on: April 15, 2011 pepsico.com/index.html#/flash/pepsico_slide.swf Weygandt, J. J., Kimmel, P. D., Kieso, D. E. (2008). Financial accounting (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. The Coca Cola Company. (2009). Retrieved on: April 15, 2011 thecoca-colacompany.com/

An Inverted Tooth Chain Engineering Essay

An Inverted Tooth Chain Engineering Essay An inverted-tooth chain operates quietly and smoothly and is also known as a silent chain. Silent chain consists of a series of toothed link plates assembled on joint components in a way that allows free flexing between each pitch. The teeth on the link plates mesh with a sprocket, similar to the way a rack meshes with a gear. The great majority of silent chain is used in drives. Silent chains are made up of stacked rows of load carrying link plates. Increasing the number of rows of links increases the chain width, tensile strength, and load carrying capacity. Using this feature, manufacturers make silent chains ranging from less than a 1 in. wide to more than 20 in. wide, with power capacities ranging from a fraction of a horsepower to more than 2000 hp. A chain is a reliable machine component, which transmits power by means of tensile forces, and is used primarily for power transmission and conveyance systems. The function and uses of chain are similar to a belt. There are many ki nds of chain. It is convenient to sort types of chain by either material of composition or method of construction. There are five types of chains: Cast iron chain Cast steel chain Forged chain Steel chain Plastic chain Demand for the first three chain types is now decreasing; they are only used in some special situations. For example, cast iron chain is part of water-treatment equipment; forged chain is used in overhead conveyors for automobile factories. History: Chains have been used for centuries to drive machines and move materials on conveyors and elevators. In 225 B C, Philo described a chain- driven water lift. Leonard da Vinci sketched the chain designs in the 1500s. Some are similar to modern bar link, leaf, and silent chains. Cog chain was developed in the early 1800s to transmit power or motion between the shafts of treadmills to water elevators, weaving looms and harvesting machinery. This chain was used to mechanize farm implements, but it broke easily and was difficult to repair in the field. Cast detachable chain was introduced in 1873 and overcome many of the problems of cog chain. This chain was made of simple identical cast links that were easily coupled and uncoupled by hand. This basic detachable chain design is one of the early chain concepts that have been unchanged nowadays also. After few years cast detachable chain was introduced, a chain made of all steel parts was introduced for driving bicycles. A patent for roller chain was issued in 1880. By early 1900s, roller chains drove the wheels of safety bicycles, as well as automobiles, trucks, and the propellers of the Wright Brothers airplane that flew at Kitty Hawk. Two major factors combined to make the roller chain industry were automation and standardization. Automation helped manufacturers meet the demand for the large amounts of high quality that were used on machines made by other industries. Standard dimensions and capacities ensured that roller chains would fit and operate as th e designer planned. The result was that the industry soon became as the precision roller chain industry.

Organic versus Inorganic Farming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organic versus Inorganic Farming - Research Paper Example This paper presents a critique of organic versus in-organic farming. It focuses on the costs and benefits in relation to health and meeting the nutritional needs of the global populace. People are becoming aware of the problems associated with pesticides and foods that are grown using in-organic farming. For example, Gabriel and Tscharntke (2007) observe that pesticides that contain heavy metals such as lead can get into the body system by feeding on food that has traces of chemicals. Tomatoes are among the farmed fruits that the European Union has restricted entry into the market due to traces in the chemicals. Such foods that may gradually lead to cancer as the chemicals build up in the body. Apart from plants, livestock is also produced organically through avoidance of the use of synthetic chemicals to control pests. In-organic farmers also apply phytohormones that include chemicals that regulate the growth of plants. The growth enhancers facilitate the development of leaves, ripening of fruits as well as the strengthening of stems. These developments are desirable especially for the early maturity of the plants. However, they have dire health implications. Some of the hormones may affect cellular activity leading to the death of cells as well as stress in plants. On the other hand, they also have an impact on humans consuming the plants. The hormones may facilitate the development of cancer. Leukemia, prostate, and breast cancer are among the problems that are associated with hormones for growth enhancement in plants. One of the hormones that are understood to affect cancer cells in humans is Sodium salicylate and methyl jasmonate among others (Avery, 2006). In essence, organic farming maintains soil fertility; it is environmentally friendly and also does not endanger the lives of humans.

Political Climate of the 1980's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Political Climate of the 1980's - Essay Example It is wrong to assume that the arms race is over as both the United States and the Russian Federation goes on feverishly producing deadlier and more lethal weapons of mass destruction. The Russian Federation today is under the determined leadership of Vladimir Putin compared to the indisciplined and chaotic days in the aftermath of the Soviet Union, under Boris Yeltsin. Russia today is far more stable and prosperous though much less democratic compared to the days of Yeltsin. Putin as a leader may be strong and determined but he also has a past that worries the west, his reputation of a ruthless KGB officer. It is however felt in many strategic circles that the west too has overlooked its responsibilities and recklessly went ahead with attempts to get the former Warsaw Pact members under the NATO ambit. The Russians have historically resented attempts by the western powers to penetrate their 'Slavic sphere of interest' in Eastern Europe and to this extent it could be said that the west for once could have been a little more measured in its approach.

Reflection of the Thought Police vs. Outer Party Game Essay Example for Free

Reflection of the Thought Police vs. Outer Party Game Essay During the Thought Police vs. Outer Party game, I learned the importance of the value of independence and freedom. Previous to playing the game, I would consistently wear whatever I wanted, I would carry my books whatever way I wanted to, and I was allowed to live my own life. But the game gave me a new perspective, not only on Winston and his hardships, but on my peers. While engaged in the game, due to the secrecy developed within the tension of ignorance, I felt paranoid and oppressed. Because nobody knew what role everybody in the class played, there were underlying tensions that lead to distrust. Personally, I could not trust anybody, not even my closest friends in the class. I felt like I was always being watched. Being worried about whether getting caught justified the uncomfortable feeling I had. Then I realized that this was Winston’s life always being watched while unwillingly obeying the rules of the party. The situation was bad, having my classmates betray each other, which taught me that there is no place safe for individualistic freedom. The first day we started the Thought Police versus Outer Party game, I was very conscious of myself and my surroundings. All day and every day, I would keep a mental checklist of the rules that I had to follow. Doing this taught me the theme of what I wanted to do versus what I needed to do. For example, one of my peers, who is not associated with AP Language, asked me why I was wearing a yellow leaf. I had to lie to her and say Oh Im just taking risks, as far as style goes. I felt stupid for saying that! I really wanted to tell her what is going on. If I was allowed to tell her, she could have possibly helped me find out who the thought police was. Speaking of having to wear my yellow-leaf necklace, the third day into the Thought Police versus Outer Party game, I overslept. Once I woke up, I put sweatpants on and ran out the front door to the bus. I didnt even realize how I looked that morning. When I got to school, I realized I was lacking my yellow-leaf necklace. I felt ultimately hopeless. I was sad, but not to the point of crying. It wasnt like I was going to be vaporized or anything. Afterwards, I went in Big Brothers classroom and saw an unpunched yellow leaf, an electronic hole puncher, scissors, and a white piece of string. I had an insane adrenaline rush. I grabbed everything and went to Coach Johnsons room quickly so no one would see me. However, I had a feeling that Big Brother saw me on the way out the door. Two minutes later, I came back into the classroom feeling accomplished as if nothing had happened. The next day, I saw that my name was on the offenders list. Guess what crime I had committed? The Yellow-Ribbon crime! All of a sudden, I did not feel accomplished after all. At least I know who reported me. That same day, I also forgot to wear anything orange. I can only imagine how Winston would have felt if he forgot to wear his uniform. Luckily, before I went to Big Brothers classroom, I stopped by Mrs. Hoods room. I saw Michaela Bailey, a member of the Outer Party. I felt so fearful because for all I know, he could have been a thought police (luckily, he was not). I took an enormous risk and asked Do you have anything orange I could wear? He answered Sure, you can wear this. He handed me an object that looked like a ripped sock that soccer players wear on their shins. I responded Thank you so much! . It is amazing how paranoid I was being, because on any other day, I would have been like Oh, no thanks. You keep it . This proves the importance of having to unwillingly obey the party. The next day, Big Brother posted the crimes and who had offended them. My name was on the list for offending Crime Number 5. This rule states: When speaking to lunch ladies, janitors, office staff, or any non-teaching adult, students must express gratitude for their service by greeting them with the phrase, We appreciate your work on behalf of our education. . I did not even know I broke this rule. I do not remember seeing a lunch lady, janitor, office member, or a non-teaching adult. That wasnt the only strange event that had occurred. All of the other Outer Party members names were listed as well. That made it even harder to guess who the Thought Police were. However, with this taking place, made me think smarter. The reason for that is because I knew that either Big Brother turned us in, or a member of the thought police turned their self in. Now that I think about it, it did not really help me at all. The day that the Thought Police versus Outer Party game was coming to a close, I was absent from school. Because of this, I was not able to guess who the thought police were. The good thing about it was that when I finally found out who the Though Police were, I realized that if I were not absent, I still would not have had decreased the size of my reflection essay.

The Sheltering Sky :: essays research papers

The Sheltering Sky Part One: My Vision   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After reading the novel, The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles, it was difficult to imagine how one could transform the novel into a satisfying film. How could one imitate such descriptive settings and emotions without the advantage of Paul Bowles' wording? Also the novel does not have the plot of a typical movie, even an action or love story, and the ending is not conclusive. Could actors today play the deep and complex characters as they are portrayed in the book? These were some of the complications I considered when deciding how I would produce the movie.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To start to picture the film, I began to think of the actors I would choose to portray the main characters of the movie. I pictured Kit as a rather frail, pretty, blonde character perhaps played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Port should be played by an actor who can generate a sense of strength and independence as shown by the character in the book. He should be a masculine individual, but definitely have a quiet, introspective side. I would like to see Harrison Ford or a similar actor play this part. Tunner should be portrayed with the right mix of good looks and charm combined with a devious underlying air which causes one to question his motives. Perhaps an actor such as Hank Azaria would be a good Tunner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I would try to shoot as many scenes as possible on location in the Sahara. By doing this, the viewer can gain a sense of the openness and vastness of the desert without the help of Bowles' descriptive wording. I would try hard to show the harshness of the heat and the burden of the dust which might cause one to react differently than in normal circumstances. I would enhance these sensations by using soft African music with flutes and horns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think central to the plot should be the change that occurred in Port and Kit's relationship after the bike ride to the top of the dune. Before this, their relationship was shaky and they were not as dependent on each other. Afterward, though, their relationship deepened and this sets the stage for Port's traumatic death. Port's death would definitely be a turning point in my film and a very emotional moment. I would try to display the raw pain and emotion of death as Bowles' does so eloquently in the book.

Dangers of Speeding

When riding through any type of speed zone you should be extremely precarious. Especially In a school zone, due to the children going and leaving school as well as all cars that could possible be lined up walling to pick up and drop off. The Lake Sconce Academy speed zone is approximately 35 miles per hour. Going over this speed zone could harm your self and the people around you as well. Violating any school speed zone could endanger the lives of children crossing the street, buses traveling back and forth, and any staff member helping the children or aren't going to school or on about their day.School zones are specifically designed to help protect children and families and to try to prevent any type of accident. Also, going over the speed Limit makes you more likely to cause or be a volt In an accident. It may seem that going only a couple miles over the speed limit wont have any cause or effect, but it has a lot more effect than anyone thinks. Many people have the thought that no damage can really be done unless your going a certain speed over the posted limit. But following the proper speed limit could keep you from injuring yourself or others.It also prevents you from loosing control, swerving, distractions, and allowing you to have ample amount of time to react to any unexpected changes within the area. The faster you are traveling in a car the harder the impact and usually the more damage caused. Not only could this effect you, your car, and the other persons belongs, but It could also affect your record. For every violation of the law you receive points, and after six points while having a class D license you risk the chance of eating your license taking until your eighteen years old or taken proper reckless driving classes.Believe it or not speeding is the third leading contributing factor in car accidents. On average, more than 33% of car accidents are caused from not following the proper speed limit. The consequences from getting in a wreck can be e xtremely serious. You have a high possibility of facing very expensive fines, having to take traffic school, having your Insurance premiums raise a significant amount, and possibly even getting your license suspended for a very lengthy time period.Dangers of Speeding By belladonna Especially in a school zone, due to the children going and leaving school as well as all cars that could possible be lined up waiting to pick up and drop off. The Lake Sconce going over the speed limit makes you more likely to cause or be a victim in an belongs, but it could also affect your record. For every violation of the law you receive serious. You have a high possibility of facing very expensive fines, having to take traffic school, having your insurance premiums raise a significant amount, and

Coronary Artery Disease Nursing Care Plan

Coronary Artery Disease Tabatha Turner Practicum I Arkansas Tech University Coronary Artery Disease â€Å"Acute coronary syndromes represent a spectrum of clinical conditions that are associated with acute myocardial ischemia† (Gulanick & Myers, 2011). Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of these clinical conditions that affect approximately 13 million people (Rimmerman, 2011). Because coronary diseases are the leading cause of death in men and women, nurses need to be involved in the care and education of people with or without CAD. Prevention is the best cure. Nurses play an important role in the treatment of CAD by offering and supplying comfort for anxiety and pain, minimizing symptoms and side effects, educating patients on the disease process, and helping to reduce risks and promote healthier lifestyles. Pathophysiology The heart is supplied blood, oxygen, and nutrients by the coronary arteries. When functioning normally, the coronary arteries ensure adequate oxygenation of the myocardium at all levels of cardiac activity (Klabunde, 2010). CAD is a heart disease that is caused by impaired blood flow to or through the coronary arteries. Several disorders can arise from the disease ranging from myocardial ischemia to myocardial infarction. Blood flow through the coronary arteries is usually dictated by the heart’s need for oxygen. It is controlled by physical, metabolic and neural factors and uses 60 to 80% of the oxygen in the blood that flows through the coronary arteries (Porth, 2011). When this blood flow is interrupted, damage ensues. Blood flow can be blocked by atherosclerosis, the buildup of fats and cholesterol in and on the artery walls (plaques) (Mayo Clinic, 2012). These buildups can be either stable and obstruct blood flow or unstable, â€Å"which can rupture and cause platelet adhesion and thrombus formation† (Porth, 2011). When the plaques are disrupted and a thrombus is formed, blood flow is obstructed and a myocardial infarction (MI) can occur. This obstruction starves the heart of oxygen and can cause angina (chest pain) and necrosis of the heart muscle. Risk Factors There are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for CAD. Patient teaching should include modifiable risks that can be avoided such as smoking, obesity, uncontrolled hypertension, high LDL levels and low HDL levels, uncontrolled diabetes, high stress, and sedentary lifestyles (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Many of these can be controlled by diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. Non-modifiable risk factor include age, gender (men are more at risk for CAD but women’s risk increases after menopause), and family history. According to the Mayo Clinic, the patient’s risk is highest if their father or brother was diagnosed with heart disease before age 55, or their mother or sister developed it before age 65. Since these factors cannot be controlled, it is extremely important to control the modifiable ones especially if the patient is at greater risk due to non-modifiable factors. Pathophysiology of MI Myocardial infarctions affect approximately ? million people each year in the US. 50% of the people affected die before reaching the hospital (KU, 2012). MI is characterized by the ischemic death of myocardial tissue associated with CAD. This occurs when blood flow through the coronary arteries is significantly reduced or blocked and the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen. A â€Å"heart attack† usually has a quick onset with chest pain being the significant symptom due to the lack of oxygen (Porth, 2011). Other symptoms can be fatigue, dyspnea, and heart palpitations. Treatment for CAD The goal in treating CAD is to restore adequate coronary perfusion. If that is not possible, medications can be used to reduce the oxygen demand by the heart (Klabunde, 2011). Treatment options for CAD include reducing risk factors, use of medications, and surgery. Patients can slow the disease process by stopping smoking, eating healthier, and participating in more active lifestyles. Medications that can be used are anti-platelets and anticoagulants that dissolve clots, or anti-angina drugs such as beta blockers (decrease myocardial oxygen consumption by decreasing the actions of the sympathetic nervous system), calcium channel blockers (decreases eart rate and strength of contraction and relaxes blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure), or nitroglycerin (dilates the arteries to increase blood flow, reducing myocardial oxygen consumption) (Smeltzer, S. , Hinkle J. , Bare, B. , & Cheever, K. 2010). Usually cardiac catheterizations are done to determine blockage percentages (Appendix B). In extreme cases of CAD, stents can be implanted within the artery to restore blood flow or bypass grafts can be placed from an artery or vein elsewhere in the body to bypass the diseased segment (Klamunde, 2010). Nursing Diagnoses CAD can be life threatening if the disease is allowed to progress. Therefore measures should be taken to prevent progression. Proper, thorough assessment and nursing interventions can help. The first priority nursing diagnosis for a patient with CAD would be: Ineffective cardiac tissue perfusion related to reduced coronary blood flow secondary to CAD as evidenced by chest pain, blood pressure of 164/88, and pulse ox of 90% on room air. This is the first priority because if the heart is not properly fed, the pump can fail and will result in inadequate circulation for the whole body which could cause death. The second priority nursing diagnosis would be: Acute pain related to ischemia secondary to CAD as evidenced by restlessness, increased blood pressure, 143/88, and verbal report of pain in left shoulder and left jaw of 8/10 (on a numeric 1-10 scale) that has been unrelieved by over the counter medications. If pain is not managed, the body systems will continue to respond increasing vasoconstriction which in turn increases BP which could eventually lead to a cardiovascular accident or death. The third nursing diagnosis for a patient with CAD that is a smoker and has an unhealthy diet is: Risk prone health behavior related to inadequate comprehension of disease process as evidenced by patient smoking ? a pack of cigarettes a day and eating fast food and fried foods regularly. These behaviors are both modifiable risk factors and should be included in the patient teaching. Nursing Goals For the priority nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Cardiac Tissue Perfusion, he goals would be:Patient will attain adequate tissue perfusion and cellular oxygenation as evidenced by a pulse ox of 96% or above on 2L oxygen by nasal cannula within 8 hoursPatient will verbalize an understanding of the disease process and the therapy regimen by discharge.The goals for the diagnosis of Acute Pain would be:Patient will verbally describe the level (using a numeric 1-10 scale) and characteristics of their pain every 2 hoursPatient will report pain goal of

Sticks and Stones essays

Sticks and Stones essays For love within a family, love that's lived in But not looked at, love within the light of which All else is seen, the love within which Words not only affect us temporarily; they change us, they socialize or unsocialize us. Everyone has issues with their parents. That's just common knowledge. Most people my age will tell you they hate their parents: Not many people say that last one. On the surface, I have a great family, and therefore a great life. My mother and father have been happily married for twenty-one years. I have a younger brother, Robbie, and also a younger sister, Rachel. And we have a dog. I also have a huge extended family: one grandfather, two grandmothers, seven uncles, eight aunts, and eleven cousins. My parents both work. My mother works as a supervisor of the mammography department of a hospital, and my father works as a supervisor of a mechanical department of an aluminum plant. Also, my father sleeps during most of the day because he works the "graveyard shift." So, if you take my family for surface value, you'd probably say that I have a great family. But I'm the one who lives here. My father and I used to have a good relationship . . . back when I was four. I was "Daddy's little girl." He'd take me camping in the back yard. And I'd wear his camouflage make-up. And we'd sleep under the stars. I was his little soldier. As I have become older, my dad's become less reasonable, and more demanding. Once I received straight A's in school. After that, straight A's were mandatory. And if I didn't come through with perfect grades, I'd be grounded. Being grounded meant that I couldn't leave the house unless it was for school or because of a fire. And I couldn't watch television or make any phone calls. When I got home from school, I had to do the chores. These included doing the household laundry (washing, drying, folding, and putting away), dishes ( washing, drying, and putting away), s...

Aldosterone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aldosterone - Essay Example The scheme of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is shown at the Fig. 2. The renin is enzyme catalysing the reaction of the transformation of angiotensinogen into angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is converted into angiotensin II and the last one is partially converted into angiotensin III (Wehling, 1995). Both angiotensin II and III stimulate the synthesis of aldosterone by the adrenal glomerulosa layer . They bind to G-protein coupled receptors and stimulate the activity of phospholipase C and adenylate cyclase. This results in the increase of conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone and corticosterone to aldosterone (Horton, 1994; Fuller, 2006). Aldosterone controls electrolyte excretion and intravascular fluid volume. It acts on the mineralocorticoid receptors of the distal renal tubules and cortical collecting ducts of the kidneys. Aldosterone regulates such physiological mechanisms as resorption and excretion of the electrolytes, particularly its action increases sodium resorption and potassium excretion. Sodium and water reabsorption is regulated by opening Na+ channels in the apical membranes of the tubular epithelium (Fuller, 2006; Rosansky, 2006). Correspondingly, opening K+ channels leads to increased potassium conductance from the cell and potassium excretion. These processes are regulated by the Na+/K+-ATPase (see Fig. 3). Aldosterone receptors are localised intracellularly. Their stimulation leads to DNA-binding and to the changes in the transcription of genes (Fig. 4). Fig. 4 Mechanisms of aldosterone action. There is interestingly that aldosterone do not only participate in the regulation of blood pressure but it also influences on the function of mononuclear leukocytes (Chai, 2005; Wehling, 1995). Thus the role of aldosterone in the regulation of blood pressure is related to its ability to increase sodium level in the blood, and, respectively change the tonus of vasculature and by the increase of circulating volume of blood (Hamilton, 2006; Rosansky, 2006). Many pathological conditions can cause hyperaldosteronism (Horton, 1994), which is characterised by the hypertension. Thus primary aldosteronism can be caused by solitary aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma or mono- or bilateral hyperplasia of the zona glomerulosa. The patients suffering with aldosteronism have hypertension and hypokalemic alkalosis whereas hypernatremia is not common. Aldosterone deficiency causes hyponatriemia, hypovolemia, and hyperkalemia (Horton, 1994). There are many diseases characterising with the decrease of aldosterone biosynthesis, e.g adrenoleukodystrophy, adrenal hypoplasia, infections and excessive haemorrhages. Nevertheless, the most frequent cause of hypoaldosteronism is adrenal insufficiency, i.e. both aldosterone and cortisol secretion are affected. Thus fulminating sepsis, autoimmunic disorders and haemorrhagic

Modernism to Postmodernism in Fashion and Design Essay

Modernism to Postmodernism in Fashion and Design - Essay Example The essay "Modernism to Postmodernism in Fashion and Design" states modernism, postmodernism and its relation to fashion and design. In the 1930s, a great deal of the art being produced throughout Western Europe was typically classified as Modern art, although it was then further divided into several different subcategories such as Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Surrealism and Abstract art. The characteristic feature of most of these art forms was that they sought to pursue the ideas behind the art rather than seeking to portray a life-like rendition of the subject matter. They also broke the rules of art, which had, until this time period, conformed to specific rules of creation and was always created within a studio where all elements could be controlled. The movement began with Impressionism, which focused on the effect of light on objects and typically portrayed scenes such as landscapes and daily life. Recognizable works from this genre include tho se of Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas and Pierre Auguste Renoir. Manet’s painting, Dejeuner sur l'herbe, created in 1863, is roughly considered to be the start of the Impressionist, and therefore the Modern, movement. Fauvism represented a wilder side of Impressionism in its use of strong, vivid colors and simplified designs in expressive, meaningful ways. Artists in this movement were Henri Matisse, Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminch. The Expressionist movement, existing as the step-sister to Fauvism.