Transcript Promoting Healthy Behaviors Post incarceration

Promoting
Healthy Behaviors
Post incarceration
Erica M. Jackson, PhD,
FACSM
Overview
 Health
Status, pre- to post-incarceration
 Health concerns
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Stress
Mental/psychological health
Physical Health
 Facilitating
healthy behavior choices
Health Status
 Prior
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to incarceration
Presence of health problems
Risk factors for chronic disease
Poor access to quality health care
 During
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incarceration
Lack of a national model curriculum for
training health care providers
Quality may vary
Health Status
 Post
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incarceration
Study of older adults recently released
79.1% reported a medical condition &
13.6% reported a serious mental illness
Rates of chronic diseases among inmates
increasing
Suggested that chronic diseases are more
advanced
Health Status
 Post
incarceration
 Rates of chronic diseases seems to
higher than in the general population
 12 times more likely to die from any
cause in the 2 weeks following release
than the general population
Health Concerns
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Access to health care
Mental health
Cardiovascular health
Diabetes
Stress
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Physical health
Mental health
Immune function
Poor decision making
* Often comorbid conditions
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Know
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Modifiable & Non-modifiable
 Risk
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risk factors
factors for many conditions include:
Smoking
Poor dietary habits
Physical inactivity
Obesity
Stress
Alcohol & drug abuse
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Understand
& work to reduce barriers
 Access to healthcare

Information about resources
 Understanding
of current health problems
 Other necessary information (screenings,
disease consequences, etc)
 Behavior change strategies
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Do
not address multiple challenging
behaviors at the same time
 Consider compatibility of behaviors
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e.g., exercise & smoking or drug use
 Set
realistic goals
 Mobilize a support network
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Stress
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management
Address obvious barriers & challenges
Find healthy outlet
Support network
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
Tips for healthy eating
 Myplate.gov
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Link for professionals
Provides specific nutrition information
Easy to follow plans
Pictorial healthy plate proportional to needs
Recommendations
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Reading
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food labels
Portions vs. serving sizes
Fats, saturated fats, trans fats
Sodium
 Variety
of foods
 Variety of fruits & vegetables – variety of
colors
 Encourage water, 100% fruit juices
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Avoid sweetened beverages
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Choose
whole grains vs. refined grains
 Healthy food preparation
 Lower fat dairy options
 Avoid heavy cream-based sauces
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Encouraging
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physical activity & exercise
Stress reduction & management
Helps body physiologically react to stress
Improves depression & depression
symptoms
Improves anxiety
Lower risk for chronic disease
Improves blood pressure, cholesterol,
diabetes,
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 As
little as 30 mins 5 days per week
 Can be done in multiple sessions of at
least 10 minutes
 Any activity is good
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Sports
Aerobic
Resistance (e.g., weights)
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Activity
does not have to be a structured
exercise program on performed in a gym
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Playing with kids
Walking for transportation
Anything to move
Promoting Healthy Behaviors
 Substitute
healthy behaviors for unhealthy
one
 Monitor habits and behaviors
 Make a plan
 Set specific, realistic goals