Association between Exercise and Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Residents: A Meta-Analysis

Background. Exercise is recommended as an effective lifestyle behaviour for adults to prevent and treat hypertension. In this study, a randomized-effect meta-analysis was used to analyse the influence of exercise interventions on blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Methods. Candidate papers were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases, and 46 studies were finally included and analysed. Results. It was shown that preplanned walking (systolic blood pressure (SBP): WMD (weighted mean difference) = −5.94, 95% CI: −8.57, −3.30; diastolic blood pressure (DBP): WMD = −2.66, 95% CI: −3.66, −1.67), yoga (SBP: WMD = −5.09, 95% CI: −9.28, −0.89; DBP: WMD = −3.06, 95% CI: −5.16, −0.96), aquatic sports (SBP WMD = −7.53, 95% CI: −11.40, −3.65; DBP: WMD = −5.35, 95% CI: −9.00, −1.69), and football (SBP: WMD = −6.06, 95% CI: −9.30, −2.82; DBP: WMD = −5.55, 95% CI: −8.98, −2.13) had significant effects on blood pressure reduction. However, Tai Chi (SBP: WMD = −8.31, 95% CI: −20.39, 3.77; DBP: WMD = −3.05, 95% CI: −6.96, 0.87) and Qigong (SBP: WMD = −4.34, 95% CI: −13.5, 4.82; DBP: WMD = −3.44, 95% CI: −7.89, 1.01) did not significantly reduce blood pressure. The heterogeneity of the meta-analysis was high. Conclusion. Walking, yoga, aquatic sports, and football were feasible and independent lifestyle interventions, and they were effective options for treating hypertension. More scientifically designed randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to further compare different forms of exercise for the treatment of hypertension.

Implementation of a lifestyle intervention for people with a severe mental illness (SMILE): a process evaluation

Background Several interventions have been developed to improve physical health and lifestyle behaviour of people with a severe mental illness (SMI). Recently, we conducted a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial which evaluated the effects of the one-year Severe Mental Illness Lifestyle Evaluation (SMILE) lifestyle intervention compared with usual care in clients with SMI. The SMILE intervention is a 12-month group-based lifestyle intervention with a focus on increased physical activity and healthy food intake. The aim of the current study was to explore the experiences of people with SMI and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding implementation feasibility of the SMILE intervention and the fidelity to the SMILE intervention. Methods A process evaluation was conducted alongside the pragmatic randomized controlled trial. The experiences of clients and HCPs in the lifestyle intervention group were studied. First, descriptive data on the implementation of the intervention were collected. Next, semi-structured interviews with clients (n = 15) and HCPs (n = 13) were performed. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis of the interview data was performed using MAXQDA software. In addition, observations of group sessions were performed to determine the fidelity to the SMILE intervention using a standardised form. Results Ten out of 26 HCPs who conducted the group sessions discontinued their involvement with the intervention, primarily due to changing jobs. 98% of all planned group sessions were performed. Four main themes emerged from the interviews: 1) Positive appraisal of the SMILE intervention, 2) Suggestions for improvement of the SMILE intervention 3) Facilitators of implementation and 4) Barriers of implementation. Both clients and HCPs had positive experiences regarding the SMILE intervention. Clients found the intervention useful and informative. The intervention was found suitable and interesting for all people with SMI, though HCPs sometimes had to tailor the intervention to individual characteristics of patients (e.g., with respect to cognitive functioning). The handbook of the SMILE intervention was perceived as user-friendly and helpful by HCPs. Combining SMILE with daily tasks, no support from other team members, and lack of staff and time were experienced as barriers for the delivery of the intervention. Conclusion The SMILE intervention was feasible and well-perceived by clients and HCPs. However, we also identified some aspects that may have hindered effective implementation and needs to be considered when implementing the SMILE intervention in daily practice.

Lifestyle behaviour of future medical professionals in a tertiary care institute in north-eastern India: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Background: The incidences of some non communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases have been rising in the country since last few decades due to the unhealthy lifestyle of the people. Researches conducted among medical and nursing students shown that even though they are aware about the consequences of practicing unhealthy lifestyle but still they do not follow the suggested guidelines for healthy lifestyle. To assess lifestyle behaviour related to dietary pattern, physical activity, substance use, sleep, stress management, among MBBS and nursing students. NEIGRIHMS, a tertiary care institute in the capital city of the north-eastern state of Meghalaya, Shillong.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 313 participants by using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the software Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) 21 version.Results: In this study, 189 (60.4%) students reported sedentary activity of spending ≥2 hours per day on phone, tablets, laptops, television, computers, etc and majority of them (59.7% and 57.2%) use the gadgets for social and whatsapp messaging respectively. Only 18 (5.8%) participants had reported regular physical activity (5 times a week) when asked about the previous month.Conclusions: Sedentary lifestyle, lack of any physical activity, use of gadgets like mobiles, laptops, etc for activities like social media, Whatsapp, unhealthy eating habits were found to be prevalent among the medical students.

Ischemic Heart Disease in Nigeria: Exploring the Challenges, Current Status, and Impact of Lifestyle Interventions on Its Primary Healthcare System

The burden of ischemic heart disease in Nigeria calls for an evidence-based, innovative, and interdisciplinary approach towards decreasing health inequalities resulting from individual lifestyle and poor socioeconomic status in order to uphold the holistic health of individuals to achieve global sustainability and health equity. The poor diagnosis and management of ischemic heart disease in Nigeria contributes to the inadequate knowledge of its prognosis among individuals, which often results in a decreased ability to seek help and self-care. Hence, current policies aimed at altering lifestyle behaviour to minimize exposure to cardiovascular risk factors may be less suitable for Nigeria’s diverse culture. Mitigating the burden of ischemic heart disease through the equitable access to health services and respect for the autonomy and beliefs of individuals in view of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires comprehensive measures to accommodate, as much as possible, every individual, notwithstanding their values and socioeconomic status.

Diet and lifestyle behaviour disruption related to the pandemic was varied and bidirectional among US and UK adults participating in the ZOE COVID Study

Evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours in the general population is limited. In this retrospective longitudinal study including UK and US participants, we collected diet and lifestyle data pre-pandemic (896,286) and peri-pandemic (291,871) using a mobile health app, and we computed a bidirectional health behaviour disruption index. Disruption of health behaviour was higher in younger, female and socio-economically deprived participants. Loss in body weight was greater in highly disrupted individuals than in those with low disruption. There were large inter-individual changes observed in 46 health and diet behaviours measured peri-pandemic compared with pre-pandemic, but no mean change in the total population. Individuals most adherent to less healthy pre-pandemic health behaviours improved their diet quality and weight compared with those reporting healthier pre-pandemic behaviours, irrespective of relative deprivation; therefore, for a proportion of the population, the pandemic may have provided an impetus to improve health behaviours. Public policies to tackle health inequalities widened by the pandemic should continue to prioritize diet and physical activity for all, as well as more targeted approaches to support younger females and those living in economically deprived areas.

A REVIEW STUDY ON UNDERSTANDING GRIEF: ATTACHMENT, LOVE AND LOSS

There is a reason why the phrases "love and loss" appear so frequently in mourning literature. Love and loss are two sides of the same coin; when we choose one, we open the door to the possibility of the other (Kosminsky & Jordan, 2016, p. 53). It is hardly surprising, therefore, that some similarities arise in how we establish attachment relationships and react to them throughout detachment and reattachment. Each person we love is unique, regardless of how many close relationships we have or with whom we have them. As a result, mourning for that person is a oneof-a-kind experience when the time comes. However, these universal sentiments share certain characteristics, which provide a framework for comprehending loss (Shear In Neimeyer, 2016, p. 14). Loss is an inevitable part of life and development. This may sound paradoxical, but the truth is that new life, change, and forward progress can only occur through losing (changing) an old lifestyle, behaviour pattern, or other aspects of the status quo (Walter & McCoyd, 2009, p. 1). Grief and mourning are the terms we hear the most in the current condition of transition to the new normal during Covid-19 circumstances, whether it is the loss of a person or an object. Recognising necessity, the authors endeavoured to conduct a review study on grief and associated concepts such as attachment, love, loss, mourning and bereavement from various perspectives. Finally, a personal experience is shared to make the study more impactful. By breaking the notion down into its core components, the current study provides everyone interested in exploring grief with a methodical overview as well as a rm understanding of the concept. Those seeking further information in the original literature will nd detailed references included.

Understanding social influence of social media for healthy nutrition and lifestyle: qualitative insights (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Although previous studies have highlighted the negative effects of the promotion of unhealthy food and beverages on social media, there is limited understanding regarding the role of social media to develop social influence that can trigger social learning for the development of healthy lifestyle behaviour. This study intends to contribute by upgrading the knowledge on how advance social platforms can act as an effective educational medium for health professionals to engage with a community about healthy nutrition and lifestyle. OBJECTIVE This study intends to contribute by upgrading the knowledge on how advance social platforms can act as an effective educational medium for health professionals to engage with a community about healthy nutrition and lifestyle. METHODS The study took a social constructionist approach because such an approach can improve understanding of the social context of food consumption, living habits, use of social media and awareness about healthy lifestyle behaviour in the context of Saudi Arabia. This study collected data from health professionals (dietitians, psychiatrists, nutritionists) as well as the general public of Saudi Arabia using focus groups discussion and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS The findings of this study reveal that information and knowledge sharing among celebrities, friends, friends of friends, health professionals and patients created a social wave to learn from each other’s experiences and develop the motivation to practice healthy lifestyle behaviour. The painful stories of patients, warnings of health professionals, and the benefits of compliance with social influence led to improvements in health (happy mood, low diabetes and blood pressure, better mental condition) and increased motivation in the community to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviour. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study reveal that information and knowledge sharing among celebrities, friends, friends of friends, health professionals and patients created a social wave to learn from each other’s experiences and develop the motivation to practice healthy lifestyle behaviour. The painful stories of patients, warnings of health professionals, and the benefits of compliance with social influence led to improvements in health (happy mood, low diabetes and blood pressure, better mental condition) and increased motivation in the community to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviour.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS): A Study Protocol of Health-promotion Lifestyle Modification Intervention

Introducing a healthy lifestyle among young adults enrolled at higher learning institutions via health promotion is best to improve health. This study investigates the effects of lifestyle modification intervention programs (LMIP) on perceived benefit-barrier behaviour, self-efficacy, health-promoting lifestyle behaviour, and MetS parameter. This two-phase study: cross-sectional and two-arm randomized controlled trial involved 124 young adults who full-fill the criteria randomly assigned either intervention or control groups. The intervention group will receive LMIP, while the controlled group will receive an information booklet. Data collection will be collected at four-time points and analyzed using a mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA). Keywords: young adult, cardiovascular diseases, physical activity, diet eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i18.3062

Lapping at the edges: A time-responsive exploration into coastal communities adaption to sea-level rise

<p>Global warming poses an increasingly relevant risk across the globe. Among one of these risks is sea-level rise. The total population exposed to flooding could triple from 50 million people to 150 million by the 2070s due to sea-level rise and increased occurrence of storms, subsidence, population growth and urbanisation (Adeyeye & Emmitt, 2017). Projections suggest that managing a 2°C rise in temperature, as per the Paris Agreement, will still cause a rise of 0.36 to 0.87m by 2100. Sea-level rise is a lagged representation of the effects of rising temperatures. This response time is considered in the research and design process timelines. ‘Lapping at the edges’ proposes a design strategy that reinvents architecture and living environments to respond to sea-level rise. This proposition explores how design, as both a process and outcome, can encourage a shift in mentality from defending against, to engaging with water. Two processes have driven this research. ‘The Execution’ explores flooding and sea-level rise and considers how to respond to this. Reviewed literature and case study analysis provided categories of architectural typologies. The adaptability criteria allows for cross-comparative analyses of each case study and how successful their respective proposals are at being adaptable. The Palette of Solutions proposed in this thesis is a library of urban and architectural ideas designed to rethink urban environments and their relationship to water. These ideas can be realised over time and in diverse arrangements for a myriad of scenarios and settings. ‘The Idea’ refers to how adaptability can be applied to urban development - exploring the maximum alternatives with design iterations. Adaptability, informed by the literature review and the creation of the timeline, is analysed through ‘The Execution’. The methodology analyses how the ‘execution’ and ‘idea’ can complement one another, creating a back and forth of research methods and design methods to execute the final idea. The design proposes a series of changes over 70 years, from 2030 to 2100, resulting in The Hub. An idea that allows modification for most settings provides a vision of the future of coastal architecture, applied to the context of Kilbirnie, Wellington. This thesis is presented in chronological order, to showcase the progression of beliefs, lifestyle, behaviour and architecture accordingly. Projections of living with water create catalysts for adaptive urban development. The Hub proposes floating infrastructure that combines architecture and urban design techniques. Integrating these solutions into a circular economy concept generate prosperity long-term. This research is utilised as a comprehensive study on sea-level rise, and the responsive design opportunities that are possible. The Hub is a representation of the possibilities of sea-level rise and responsive architectural solutions. The research has achieved the intention to generate awareness of the impacts of sea-level rise and create criteria which encourage a different approach to these dynamic living environments.</p>

Lapping at the edges: A time-responsive exploration into coastal communities adaption to sea-level rise

<p>Global warming poses an increasingly relevant risk across the globe. Among one of these risks is sea-level rise. The total population exposed to flooding could triple from 50 million people to 150 million by the 2070s due to sea-level rise and increased occurrence of storms, subsidence, population growth and urbanisation (Adeyeye & Emmitt, 2017). Projections suggest that managing a 2°C rise in temperature, as per the Paris Agreement, will still cause a rise of 0.36 to 0.87m by 2100. Sea-level rise is a lagged representation of the effects of rising temperatures. This response time is considered in the research and design process timelines. ‘Lapping at the edges’ proposes a design strategy that reinvents architecture and living environments to respond to sea-level rise. This proposition explores how design, as both a process and outcome, can encourage a shift in mentality from defending against, to engaging with water. Two processes have driven this research. ‘The Execution’ explores flooding and sea-level rise and considers how to respond to this. Reviewed literature and case study analysis provided categories of architectural typologies. The adaptability criteria allows for cross-comparative analyses of each case study and how successful their respective proposals are at being adaptable. The Palette of Solutions proposed in this thesis is a library of urban and architectural ideas designed to rethink urban environments and their relationship to water. These ideas can be realised over time and in diverse arrangements for a myriad of scenarios and settings. ‘The Idea’ refers to how adaptability can be applied to urban development - exploring the maximum alternatives with design iterations. Adaptability, informed by the literature review and the creation of the timeline, is analysed through ‘The Execution’. The methodology analyses how the ‘execution’ and ‘idea’ can complement one another, creating a back and forth of research methods and design methods to execute the final idea. The design proposes a series of changes over 70 years, from 2030 to 2100, resulting in The Hub. An idea that allows modification for most settings provides a vision of the future of coastal architecture, applied to the context of Kilbirnie, Wellington. This thesis is presented in chronological order, to showcase the progression of beliefs, lifestyle, behaviour and architecture accordingly. Projections of living with water create catalysts for adaptive urban development. The Hub proposes floating infrastructure that combines architecture and urban design techniques. Integrating these solutions into a circular economy concept generate prosperity long-term. This research is utilised as a comprehensive study on sea-level rise, and the responsive design opportunities that are possible. The Hub is a representation of the possibilities of sea-level rise and responsive architectural solutions. The research has achieved the intention to generate awareness of the impacts of sea-level rise and create criteria which encourage a different approach to these dynamic living environments.</p>