Nursing CEUs

Nursing Continuing Education Course Online

Sample/Excerpt: High Cholesterol Pt. 3: Food Therapy

12 Nursing Continuing Education Units


This continuing education activity is approved for 12 contact hours by WSNA. Expiration date: April 30, 2013.

This continuing nursing education was approved by the Washington State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This course is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing for 12 nursing CEUs for nursing continuing education credit.

Download the course, complete the online quiz, and receive immediate license credit!



This is Part Three of a three part series on hyperlipidemia (dyslipidemia). This course focuses on Chinese Medicine prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia, including practical and in-depth discussions of lifestyle practices, dietary therapies, and simple herbal remedies. Please note that Part Two is prerequisite to understanding the treatment principles in Part Three. The combined series empowers nurses and healthcare professionals with an in-depth understanding of dyslipidemia and the tools necessary to prevent and treat this disorder safely and effectively.

Course Outline for Pt. 3: Chinese Medicine Dietetics:

3. Prevention & Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Chinese Medicine
3.1 Lifestyle
3.1.1 Sleep Hygiene
3.1.2 Elimination
3.1.3 Dietary Habits
3.2 Food Therapy
3.2.1 Individual Foods
3.2.2 Lipid-Reducing Food Formulas
1. Teas
2. Congees
3. Soups
Conclusion


Excerpt from the main text of the course:


3. Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Chinese Medicine
- 3.1 Lifestyle - 3.1.1 Sleep Hygiene
Chinese medicine holds that regular sleeping habits are crucial to good health. Modern research shows that sleep habits have an effect on serum lipid levels and BMI . However, the majority of modern studies only look at total amount of sleep, ignoring other aspects of sleep hygiene such as bedtime, and regularity of bed/wake times. Chinese medicine contends that sufficient sleep time and regularity of bedtime and wake-time are all important. In general, 8 hours of sleep is considered an appropriate amount for most individuals. For sick and/or weak patients more sleep may be necessary. Bedtime ideally should be around 9pm, and preferably no later than 10pm, and it is important to go to bed at roughly the same time each night. Children need around 11 hours of sleep each day, including naps, and should generally sleep earlier than adults. While this author was unable to find modern studies substantiating all of these ideas, the experience of CM physicians over the last 2000+ years indicates they are valid.


3.1.2 Elimination


Bowel Movement

CM has long recognized that healthy bowel movements are key to health and longevity, and the importance of this cannot be overstressed. The stool is made up largely of metabolic waste products that need to leave the body in a timely manner. If they do not, these metabolic waste products cannot completely leave the body and a host of problems can result.

While allopathic medicine may not recognize any connection between bowel movements and dyslipidemia, CM does. The metabolic waste that stagnates in the body as a result of poor bowel movements often manifests as dampness and heat, both of which are implicated in conditions such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and CHD, as well as many other conditions.


Most patients will report having “normal” bowel movements. However, this often means “normal” (read, “usual”) for them, and is not “normal” in the sense of what is healthy or ideal. According to CM, a normal, healthy bowel movement consists of the following:


1. Occurs once each day at a regular time, preferably in the morning shortly after waking.

2. Stool should be thick, formed but soft, and in one long piece which does not float. Stool should not be thin, dry, hard, sticky, loose, or in many pieces. There should be no undigested food in the stool, exceptions being things like seeds, nuts, corn, and other difficult to digest items.
3. There should be a large quantity of stool, which is very easy to pass (no straining, and finished within a minute or so), and after evacuation the abdomen should feel very empty and light.
4. Stool should not be sticky. When wiping the anus, one wipe should be sufficient, and even then there should ideally be very little, or even nothing to wipe off. The stool should not stick to the toilet bowl. If one needs to wipe many times, or stool is sticking to the bowl, this is considered “sticky”.

Bowel movements not meeting these requirements cannot be considered normal according to CM. Furthermore, these requirements must be met everyday. If they are only occasionally met, the bowel movements cannot be considered normal. Likewise, even if they are only occasionally missed, the bowel movements cannot be considered entirely normal or healthy. Ideally, these requirements are met everyday.


While the CM diagnosis and treatment of abnormal bowel movements is complex and beyond the scope of this course, there are practices that help promote healthy bowel movements.


1. Cultivate a regular bowel movement schedule. If one does not already have a bowel movement each day shortly after waking, one should cultivate this habit by sitting on the toilet each morning in an attempt to pass the stool. One should not strain at the stool, or worry if the stool does not come, but rather try to coax the body into feeling that this is the correct time to go. If practiced routinely, this can help promote a regular movement.


2. Self-massage to stimulate intestinal peristalsis and help induce a timely, more complete bowel movement. Upon waking, but before getting out of bed in the morning, one can perform abdominal self-massage. Lying supine in the bed, gently rub the abdomen in a clockwise direction (the direction of peristaltic movement; clockwise, as if the abdomen itself were the face of a clock) with both hands flat over the abdomen for several minutes. Then, starting just above and to the left of symphysis pubis, make small, somewhat deeper, clockwise motions over the large intestine with an emphasis on the stroke in the direction of large intestine peristalsis. Massage a small section of the large intestine in this manner for 5 to 10 seconds, then move in a counter-clockwise direction to the next, more proximal section of the large intestine and massage there for 5 to 10 seconds. Continue in this manner until coming full-circle. Finish off the routine by repeating the first method again for a minute or two. For best results, this massage should be performed each morning.



3.1.3 Dietary Habits


Diet plays a major role in the development, prevention, and treatment of dyslipidemia. A huge amount of modern research shows that foods have significant impact on serum lipid levels, and some studies show correlation between regular mealtimes and serum lipids . CM also recognizes these connections, and has long maintained that dietary habits have significant effects on health. The following are some basic principles of eating according to CM.


 

 

 


 


Objectives and Disclosures:

 

High Cholesterol Pt. 3: Chinese Medicine Dietetics, overall purpose: To increase an understanding of Chinese medicine dietetics as it relates to dyslipidemia.

Objectives:
Identify the medicinal properties of individual foods as they relate to the Chinese medicine treatment of dyslipidemia.
Identify the medicinal properties of food formulas (recipes) as they relate to the Chinese medicine treatment of dyslipidemia.

Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMI) Disclosures
High Cholesterol Pt. 1: Western Medicine
High Cholesterol Pt. 2: Chinese Medicine Theory
High Cholesterol Pt. 3: Chinese Medicine Dietetics

This continuing nursing education is approved by the Washington State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Requirements to receive full contact-hour credit for this CNE activity: register for this activity, pass the quiz, complete and submit the evaluation form.

Dr. Livingston and Adam White have attested to provide information fairly & without bias. Dr. Livingston and Adam White receive financial compensation from HealthCMI for the sale of this CNE activity. HealthCMI supports the development and distribution of this CNE activity. The Healthcare Medicine Institute approval status refers only to continuing nursing education activities and does not imply that there is a real or implied endorsement of any product, service, or company referred to in this activity nor of any company subsidizing costs related to the activity. This CNE activity does not include any unannounced information about off-label use of a product for a purpose other than that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Expiration Date for Awarding Contact Hours: This course must be completed by 4-22-2012.


 

Disclosure Form
Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMI)
1-10-10

High Cholesterol Pt. 1: Western Medicine, 7 contact hours
High Cholesterol Pt. 2: Chinese Medicine Theory, 4 contact hours
High Cholesterol Pt. 3: Chinese Medicine Dietetics, 12 contact hours

This continuing nursing education is approved by the Washington State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.


Requirements to receive full contact-hour credit for this CNE activity: register for this activity, pass the quiz, complete and submit the evaluation form.

Dr. Livingston and Adam White have attested to provide information fairly & without bias. Dr. Livingston and Adam White receive financial compensation from HealthCMI for the sale of this CNE activity. HealthCMI supports the development and distribution of this CNE activity. The Healthcare Medicine Institute approval status refers only to continuing nursing education activities and does not imply that there is a real or implied endorsement of any product, service, or company referred to in this activity nor of any company subsidizing costs related to the activity. This CNE activity does not include any unannounced information about off-label use of a product for a purpose other than that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Expiration Date for Awarding Contact Hours: This course must be completed by 4-22-2012.



Overall Purpose/Goal

Section 1- High Cholesterol Pt. 1: Western Medicine: To increase an understanding of western medicine as it relates to dyslipidemia.
Section 2- High Cholesterol Pt. 2: Chinese Medicine Theory: To increase an understanding of Chinese medicine theory as it relates to dyslipidemia.
Section 3- High Cholesterol Pt. 3: Chinese Medicine Dietetics: To increase an understanding of Chinese medicine dietetics as it relates to dyslipidemia.



There is no commercial support or sponsorship for the activities in High Cholesterol Part 1, 2, or 3.



Learn more about the foods and recipes in the actual course material coming soon for nursing continuing education online credit. Earn your nursing CEUs today!