O conviver de idosos portadores de hipertensão arterial: avaliação do processo adaptativo

Abstract

We aimed to investigai© the adaptative process of arterial hypertension patients, reiated to the aging and the therapeutical joining need which consists besides the use of medicines, changes in the lifestyle. This is a descriptive research, developed in Fortaleza-CE, counting on the participation of eleven old-aged people, during the period of March to June of 2000. During the interview we used a route for data collection based on the Roy’s model, including therefore, the physiological manners, self- concept, acting of roles and interdependence. For the data collection process accomplishment, ali the ethical precepts considered important for the research development involving human beings, were respected. After the collection of data, the speeches were transcribed, organized according to presupposes of the structural analysis and analyzed due to the theoretical references of Roy. According to the findings, we can reveal that old-aged people presented limitations and even sequeis in consequence of arterial hypertension. As we were expecting, several alterations were observed in physiological way, being eminent those involved in the activity function and rest function. The old-aged persons, mainly those who were Cerebral Vascular Accident victims, reiated sequeis that were capable to affect the locomotion and the realization of some daily tasks. The physicaí pain, bringing varied limitations, was also a very mentioned phenomenon. Doing this way, we noticed that the coexistence with a chronic pain takes to countless ineffective responses, as insomnia, appetite loss, decrease of activities, amongrothers. The old- aged persons still mentioned the sensation of loss or decreasing of tactile sensibility, characterized by the perception of dormancy, taking to the limitation of physicaí mobility. Other alterations in the physiologic way reiated by they were: loss of memory, breathing discomfort and fatigue. In what refers to the self-concept, we noticed that when living together with the hypertension, some old-aged patients feel fear feelings, anguish and insecurity, reflecting directly in their self-concept. We put in evidence, that a significant portion of these patients were able to assume a defined role in relation to the therapeutical following, especially, in what refers to non pharmacological actions.