scholarly journals Evitapp: Persuasive Application for Physical Activity and Smoking Cessation

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (19) ◽  
pp. 1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Bascur ◽  
Pedro Rossel ◽  
Valeria Herskovic ◽  
Claudia Martínez-Carrasco

The most important risk factors for cardiovascular health are smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. This paper proposes Evitapp, a mobile application designed to promote physical activity and smoking cessation. The application does not use additional tracking devices, rather relying on phone sensors to track physical activity, and on users logging their behavior. Nineteen users tested the application over 10 days. Participants found the applications easy to use and used them approximately once per day. Even though the habits of the experiment participants did not change significantly, those who used the smoking cessation application reported decreasing their smoking habit.

Author(s):  
Dominique Hansen ◽  
Martin Halle

Physical activity (PA) and exercise training (ET) are highly effective in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) via improvement of cardiovascular risk factors (CV RFs), such as blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, glycaemic control, body fat mass, and inflammation. In the first part of this chapter, we describe the currently observed effects of PA and exercise intervention on these RFs. In the second part, we explain which exercise modalities should be selected to optimize these CVD RFs, especially for those patients with multiple CVD RFs.


Author(s):  
Jos Twisk ◽  
Isabel Ferreira

The incidence of morbidity and mortality related to CVD is rather low in a paediatric population. Studies investigating the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents are therefore mostly limited to CVD risk factors as outcome measures. For this reason, this chapter will focus on the association of physical activity and physical fitness with CVD risk factors in children and adolescents. These risk factors can be divided into the so-called traditional CVD risk factors; that is, lipoproteins [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG)], blood pressure, body fatness, and diabetes, and ‘new’ CVD risk factors; that is, other lipoproteins [lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), apolipoprotein (apo)B, and apoA-1], coagulation and inflammation markers [fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP)], homocysteine, and heart rate variability.


10.2196/19157 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e19157
Author(s):  
Nadia Minian ◽  
Mathangee Lingam ◽  
Rahim Moineddin ◽  
Kevin E Thorpe ◽  
Scott Veldhuizen ◽  
...  

Background Modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor diet account for a significant proportion of the preventable deaths in Canada. These factors are also known to cluster together, thereby compounding the risks of morbidity and mortality. Given this association, smoking cessation programs appear to be well-suited for integration of health promotion activities for other modifiable risk factors. The Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) program is a province-wide smoking cessation program that currently encourages practitioners to deliver Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to treatment for patients who are experiencing depressive symptoms or consume excessive amounts of alcohol via a web-enabled clinical decision support system. However, there is no available clinical decision support system for physical inactivity and poor diet, which are among the leading modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases. Objective The aim of this study is to assess whether adding a computerized/web-enabled clinical decision support system for physical activity and diet to a smoking cessation program affects smoking cessation outcomes. Methods This study is designed as a hybrid type 1 effectiveness/implementation randomized controlled trial to evaluate a web-enabled clinical decision support system for supporting practitioners in addressing patients’ physical activity and diet as part of smoking cessation treatment in a primary care setting. This design was chosen as it allows for simultaneous testing of the intervention, its delivery in target settings, and the potential for implementation in real-world situations. Intervention effectiveness will be measured using a two-arm randomized controlled trial. Health care practitioners will be unblinded to their patients’ treatment allocation; however, patients will be blinded to whether their practitioner receives the clinical decision support system for physical activity and/or fruit/vegetable consumption. The evaluation of implementation will be guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Results Recruitment for the primary outcome of this study is ongoing and will be completed in November 2020. Results will be reported in March 2021. Conclusions The findings of the study will provide much needed insight into whether adding a computerized/web-enabled clinical decision support system for physical activity and diet to a smoking cessation program affects smoking cessation outcome. Furthermore, the implementation evaluation would provide insight into the feasibility of online-based interventions for physical activity and diet in a smoking cessation program. Addressing these risk factors simultaneously could have significant positive effects on chronic disease and cancer prevention. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04223336; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04223336 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/19157


Author(s):  
Lars-Kristian Lunde ◽  
Øivind Skare ◽  
Asgeir Mamen ◽  
Per Anton Sirnes ◽  
Hans C. D. Aass ◽  
...  

There is a plausible association between shift work and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be due to disruption of the circadian rhythm causing hormonal changes and metabolic disturbances, resulting in high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and being overweight. However, few studies have investigated the association between several consecutive long work shifts, including night shifts, and risk factors for developing CVD. Moreover, knowledge is lacking on factors that may modify or enhance this suggested relationship. The study period is planned from the third quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2021, and will involve 125 industrial employees at two Norwegian enterprises producing insulation. The work schedule is either rotating shiftwork (morning, evening, night) or regular day work. At baseline, we will measure blood parameters, including markers of inflammation, lipids, and glycosylated hemoglobin. We will also collect measures of blood pressure, resting heart rate, arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness, and aerobic fitness. At the end of baseline data collection, a subgroup will undergo a supervised high-intensity interval training intervention for eight weeks, initiated by the Occupational Health Service. At one-year follow-up, we repeat baseline measures with added measures of heart rate variability and additional five weeks monitoring of sleep and physical activity, and assessment of respirable dust. At the two year follow-up, we will measure CVD risk factors before and after a planned three-month shutdown in one of the studied plants. We will also assess respirable dust, monitor sleep, and compile a one-year retrospective detailed overview of working hours. A final data collection, similar to the one at baseline, will be carried out after three years. We will use a comprehensive set of methods to identify the effects of shift work with long working hours and night shifts on cardiovascular health. This will provide new knowledge on the association between early manifestations of CVD and occupational exposure to shift work. Further, we can study whether work organization such as extensive overtime, sleep loss, and dust exposure have detrimental effects, and if a three-month cease in shift work or increased physical activity will modify early manifestations of CVD.


Author(s):  
Sibu P. Saha ◽  
Melissa A. Banks ◽  
Thomas F. Whayne Jr

: In this era of potent medications and interventional cardiovascular (CV) procedures, the importance of beginning with and including therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) is frequently forgotten. A major goal of this review article is to show and emphasize that modification of CV risk with nonmedication approaches makes an essential contribution to CV risk reduction. Available information on TLC and modifiable CV risk factors was reviewed and assessed. Modifiable major CV risk factors include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco abuse, obesity, stress, and sedentary lifestyle. Age as a major CV risk factor is, of course, not susceptible to modification. A contribution to the control of CV risk factors can occur without the start of medications and there is proof of benefit for beginning with a nonpharmacological approach. TLC can benefit all of the major modifiable CV risk factors and there is good evidence for the additional benefit of supervised and group TLC. TLC includes physical activity, diet, and smoking cessation. Evidence for the benefit of TLC in reducing CV disease events is well established. However, medications must be added in those patients with higher CV risk to obtain maximum cholesterol reduction (lower is better for the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and good blood pressure control. The benefit of TLC is frequently forgotten in this era of potent medications and invasive procedures. The benefits of diet and physical activity are emphasized with supporting data. Many motivated patients can prolong their lives significantly by dedication to TLC. •Therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) especially encompasses increased physical activity, healthy diet, and smoking cessation. •There is extensive proof for the benefit of TLC in contributing to cardiovascular (CV) disease prevention. •CV disease has strong metabolic and inflammatory components, both of which can be improved by TLC.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles German ◽  
Nour Makarem ◽  
Jason Fanning ◽  
Susan Redline ◽  
Tali Elfassy ◽  
...  

Introduction: Sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity are each independently associated with cardiovascular health (CVH). However, many studies have investigated these relationships in isolation even though a change in any one given behavior will affect the time spent in the others. It is unknown how reallocating time in sedentary behavior with sleep or physical activity effects overall CVH in a diverse cohort of men and women at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypothesis: Reallocating 30 minutes of sedentary time with sleep, light (LIPA), or moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with more favorable overall CVH due to improvements in risk factors for CVD. Methods: Data for this analysis were taken from the Multi-Ethnic Study on Atherosclerosis (MESA) Sleep Ancillary Study. Eligible participants (n= 1718) wore Actiwatch accelerometers for 24 hours a day, and had at least 3 days of valid accelerometry. Time spent in sleep, sedentary behavior, LIPA, and MVPA was determined based on an established algorithm. The American Heart Association’s life simple 7 was used to represent the CVH score after excluding the physical activity component, with higher scores indicating more favorable CVH. All components were ascertained from MESA exam 5. Isotemporal substitution modeling was conducted to examine the effect of substituting 30 minutes of sedentary time for an equivalent amount of sleep, LIPA, or MVPA. Results: The mean age of participants was 68.3, 54.0% were female and 38.6% were white. The mean CVH score was 5.9 (95%CI: 5.8-6.0). On average, participants spent 499.3 minutes/day in sedentary time, 415.3 minutes/day in LIPA, 26.0 minutes/day in MVPA, and 388.2 minutes/day sleeping. Reallocating 30 minutes of sedentary time to sleep, LIPA, and MVPA was associated with a significantly higher CVH score [β(SE): 0.077(0.023), 0.039(0.017), and 0.485(0.065) respectively]. Reallocating 30 minutes of sedentary time to sleep was associated with lower BMI. Reallocating 30 minutes of sedentary time to LIPA was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol, and lower BMI. Reallocating 30 minutes of sedentary time to MVPA was associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lower BMI. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that sleep, LIPA, and MVPA are all positively associated with more favorable overall CVH and several key CVD risk factors. These findings underscore the importance of lifestyle modifications in improving CVH.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanjala S Purnell ◽  
Ina Glenn-Smith ◽  
Sunjae Bae ◽  
Grecia Vargas ◽  
Anika L Hines ◽  
...  

Background: African Americans (AAs) and adults living in urban communities continue to experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, obesity) despite decades of recognition of these disparities. Methods: The Health Freedom Path to Wellness Program is an innovative community-based educational and behavioral intervention to reduce disparities in CVD risk factors. The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of the Circle of Friends (COF) educational and social support component of the Health Freedom intervention. The Health Freedom-COF incorporated six weekly one-hour long sessions led by lay health workers trained in CVD health education based on the AHA’s Simple 7 guidelines, blood pressure (BP) measurement, physical activity, and behavior change strategies, and culminated in a 5K celebration walk that gives participants an opportunity to learn about Maryland’s important role in the Underground Railroad. Results: Study participants included 353 adults in Maryland (93% AAs, mean age: 53 years; 85% female; and 35% with annual incomes <$50,000). At baseline, mean BP(SD) was 127.4 (17.6)/77.1 (10.8) mmHg; mean weight in pounds (SD) was 191.6 (45.2); 43.1% had diagnosed hypertension, and 15.0% had diabetes. Compared with their pre-intervention assessments, adults who completed the intervention experienced an average reduction of -5.2 mm Hg systolic blood pressure (95% CI: 4.1-6.3, p<0.001) and -3.3 mm Hg diastolic BP (95% CI: 2.5-4.1, p<0.001). At baseline, only 3.3% of participants reported a weekly consumption of 5+ fruit servings; 5.9% reported 5+ vegetable servings, and 12.8% reported 5+ days of physical activity. However, after completing the program, 22.4% of participants reported a weekly consumption of 5+ fruit servings; 28.6% reported 5+ vegetable servings, and 46.7% reported 5+ days of physical activity. Conclusions: The Health Freedom educational and behavioral intervention was associated with improvements in blood pressure, diet, and physical activity among socially at-risk adults.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 2374
Author(s):  
Adriana Arruda Barbosa ◽  
Giselle Pinheiro Lima Aires Gomes ◽  
Ivandra Mari Roieski ◽  
Elizângela Sofia Ribeiro Rodrigues ◽  
Sávia Denise Silva Carlotto Herrera

ABSTRACTObjective: to verify the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive military police officers. Method: this is a transversal, descriptive, and exploratory research, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Centro Universitario Unirg under the Protocol 0142/2010, in which the 22 military police officers identified as hypertensive subjects underwent the assessment of vital signs and anthropometric measurements. After this, they answered to the questionnaires on physical activity level, smoking habit, pattern of alcohol intake, inventory of stress symptoms, and dietary interview. The data underwent a statistical analysis using the chi-square test with Yates' correction. Results: with regard to the body mass index (BMI), only 5% were normal. In the waist/hip ratio (WHR), it was found that 36.36% presented cardiac risk factors. In the physical activity level, 22.73% were sedentary, and 36.36% were insufficiently active. Considering the smoking habit, only 9.09% were smokers. In the pattern of alcohol intake, 4.55% fit into the zone III and 9.09% fit into the zone IV. Through the stress questionnaire it was found that 54.55% did not fit into any phase. In the feeding pattern assessment, 40.91% had the adequate number of daily meals and only 18.18% consumed adequate amounts of macronutrients. Conclusion: the cardiovascular risk factors evaluated, such as WHR, smoking habit, stress, and alcohol intake, presented a low prevalence among military police officers, however, with regard to BMI, those evaluated were mostly classified as subjects with overweight or obesity, insufficiently active or sedentary, and with a reduced number of daily meals. Descriptors: hypertension; cardiovascular diseases; prevalence.RESUMOObjetivo: verificar a prevalência dos fatores de risco cardiovasculares em policiais militares hipertensos. Método: trata-se de pesquisa transversal, descritiva e exploratória, aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa do Centro Universitário Unirg sob o Protocolo n. 0142/2010, na qual os 22 policiais militares identificados como hipertensos foram submetidos à aferição dos sinais vitais e das medidas antropométricas. Após isso, responderam aos questionários sobre nível de atividade física, hábito tabagístico, padrão do uso do álcool, inventário de sintomas de stress e inquérito dietético. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística utilizando o teste de Qui-quadrado com correção de Yates. Resultados: em se tratando do índice de massa corpórea (IMC), apenas 5% encontrava-se dentro da normalidade. Na relação cintura-quadril (RCQ), constatou-se que 36,36% apresentavam fatores de risco cardíaco. No nível de atividade física, 22,73% eram sedentários e 36,36% insuficientemente ativos. Sobre hábito tabagístico, apenas 9,09% eram fumantes. No padrão do uso de álcool, 4,55% encontravam-se na zona III e 9,09% na zona IV. Por meio do questionário de estresse constatou-se 54,55% não estavam em nenhuma fase. Na avaliação do hábito alimentar, 40,91% faziam o número adequado de refeições diárias e apenas 18,18% alimentavam-se com quantidades adequadas de macronutrientes. Conclusão: os fatores de riscos cardiovasculares avaliados, como RCQ, hábito tabagístico, estresse e ingestão de álcool, apresentaram baixa prevalência nos policiais militares, porém, em relação ao IMC, os avaliados foram classificados, em sua maioria, com sobrepeso ou obesidade, insuficientemente ativos ou sedentários e com número reduzido de refeições diárias. Descritores: hipertensão; doenças cardiovasculares; prevalência.RESUMEN Objetivo: verificar la prevalencia de los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares en policías militares hipertensos. Método: esta investigación fue transversal, descriptiva y exploratoria y aprobado por el  Comité de Ética en Investigación del Centro Universitario Unirg bajo Protocolo nº 0142/2010, en el que 22 policías militares identificados como hipertensos se sometieron al contraste de signos vitales y a medidas antropométricas. Tras ello, respondieron a los cuestionarios sobre nivel de actividad física, hábitos tabaquistas, estándar de empleo de alcohol, inventario de síntomas de estrés y hábitos dietéticos. Los datos se sometieron a un análisis estadístico empleando el test de qui-cuadrado con corrección de Yates. Resultados: tratándose del índice de masa corporal (IMC), apenas el 5% se encontraba dentro de la normalidad. En la relación cintura-caderas (RCC), se constató que el 36,36% presentaban riesgo cardíaco. En el nivel de actividad física, el 22,73% eran sedentarios y el 36,36% insuficientemente activos. Sobre hábitos tabaquistas, apenas el 9,09% eran fumadores. En el estándar de consumo de alcohol, el 4,55% se encontraba en la zona III y el 9,09% en la zona IV. Por medio de cuestionario de estrés se constató que un 54,4% no estaba en ninguna fase. En la evaluación de hábitos alimenticios, el 40,91% efectuaba el número adecuado de comidas diarias y apenas el 18,18% se alimentaba con cantidades adecuadas de macro-nutrientes. Conclusión: los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares evaluados, como RCC, hábitos tabaquistas, estrés e consumo de alcohol, estos presentaron baja prevalencia en los policías militares, aunque en relación al IMC, los evaluados se clasificaron, en su mayoría, con sobrepeso y obesidad, insuficientemente activos o sedentarios y con número reducido de comidas diarias. Descriptores: hipertensión; enfermedades cardiovasculares; prevalencia.


Author(s):  
Adi Hidayat

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence increases with age and is frequently higher in the elderly.(1) Therefore prevention of CVD in the elderly through management of risk factors is important in order to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). There are several risk factors of CVD that can be modified, such as smoking, physical activity, and unhealthy diet. Cessation of smoking is the most potent measure to prevent thousands of CVD events and death


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