D222: SMART Goals and Health Promotion Activities Essay

Student Name

Western Governors University

D222 Comprehensive Health Assessment

Prof. Name:

Date

D222: Comprehensive Health Assessment

D1. Health Promotion Justification

What are the assessment findings that support the chosen health promotion activities?

My patient, Nick, is currently in good health with no underlying medical conditions or prescribed medications. He is physically active due to his demanding job and is motivated to maintain his health into older age. However, during the health assessment interview, Nick revealed that he had not visited a dentist in over two years and usually only brushes his teeth once daily in the morning. He explained that his physically exhausting job often causes him to fall asleep on the couch after dinner, preventing him from brushing his teeth a second time before bed.

This finding highlights a key area for health promotion: improving oral hygiene habits. It is important to inform Nick that oral health is intricately linked to overall systemic health. The mouth serves as a gateway to both the digestive and respiratory systems, and poor oral hygiene can lead to preventable infections, dental caries, gum disease, and more serious conditions such as endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Educating Nick on the importance of brushing and flossing twice daily is essential to reducing these risks.

Nick also reported that, although his job is physically strenuous, he does not engage in additional exercise or cardiovascular workouts. Incorporating structured physical activity beyond work-related exertion is crucial to long-term health maintenance. Research by Anderson and Durstine (2019) emphasizes that regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic diseases and mortality, serving as a fundamental primary prevention strategy. Therefore, recommending a routine cardiovascular exercise regimen will help preserve Nick’s current health status and promote healthy aging.

D2. SMART Goals

What are the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely goals for each health promotion activity?

Goal Number	Health Promotion Activity	SMART Goal Description
Goal 1	Improve oral hygiene	S: I will brush and floss my teeth twice daily to reduce the risk of oral and systemic diseases.M: I will brush after breakfast and before bed.A: I will set phone reminders three days a week at 7:30 AM and 8:30 PM to help establish the habit.R: Knowing the risks and benefits motivates me to start this routine.T: I will gradually increase brushing frequency from three to seven days a week over time.
Goal 2	Increase physical activity	S: I will join a local gym and engage in cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week before work.M: I will walk and run on the treadmill to elevate my heart rate above 140 bpm for 15-20 minutes per session.A: Starting with three days per week is manageable and prevents burnout.R: I prefer morning workouts because I am too tired after work.T: I will increase treadmill time by 10 minutes weekly until reaching 35 minutes and add one gym day weekly until five days are reached.

References

Anderson, E., & Durstine, J. L. (2019). Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief review. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 1(1), 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2019.08.006