Identify characteristics, risk factors, and prevention or treatments available for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women.2 Smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure are contributing factors to heart disease, but one of the major factors is atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis, fatty plaque is deposited along the artery walls, reducing elasticity and, eventually, blood flow. This condition may reduce blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack, as the heart muscle actually dies.3 Being overweight also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart).
A major culprit in the development of atherosclerosis is LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. When LDLs carry cholesterol to the body’s cells, the cholesterol is actually deposited on the arterial walls. The arteries become blocked and blood flow is dammed by other particles in the blood becoming caught in the web of fat that develops along the wall.
You may have heard that HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the “good” cholesterol. It offers a protective effect against the buildup of atherosclerosis by removing cholesterol from the arteries.4 HDLs are formed through regular aerobic exercise and by cessation of smoking.
Blood tests can determine if levels are in the normal range. According to physicians, total cholesterol should be less than 200 milligrams, LDLs (“bad” cholesterol) less than 130 milligrams, and HDLs at least 50 milligrams. Cholesterol levels should be checked during a physical exam by a physician, who will determine when to recheck the levels.
You can estimate someone’s chance of suffering a heart attack by using this risk index. Remember, it is an estimate, not a diagnosis.
Here’s how it works:
| Table 6.1 | |
|---|---|
|
| Total Score | Associated Risk |
|---|---|
| 6–14 | Risk well below average |
| 15–19 | Risk below average |
| 20–25 | Risk generally average |
| 26–32 | Risk moderately high |
| 33–40 | Risk dangerous |
| 41–56 | Risk very dangerous |
| 57+ | Risk extreme |
The following suggestions are provided to help you live a healthier life.6
The following are food suggestions to help keep your heart healthy and strong.7
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, is one of the leading causes of paralysis, and is among the most common causes of death in the United States. A stroke is a sudden interruption of the circulation of the blood vessels to supplying the brain. The stroke interrupts the oxygen supply and causes damage to the delicate nerve cells of the brain. According to experts, about fifty percent of those who experience a stroke will pass on as a result.
If the stroke occurs in the right half of the brain, symptoms will show on the left side of the body. If the stroke occurs in the left half of the brain, symptoms will show on the right side of the body. Symptoms include decreased visual fields, paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, numbness, slurred speech, loss of coordination, and personality changes.
Poor diet, inactivity, and obesity are lifestyle-related risk factors for stroke. These risks can be reduced by consuming less fat and sodium, and by eating more fruits and vegetables, being active for at least thirty minutes on most days, and losing weight with the help of a healthcare professional.8 Other risk factors that can be treated or controlled include atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and cigarette smoking.9
Stroke treatment involves improving the flow of blood to the brain by surgery and medication.10 The prognosis for stroke victims is much better today due to improvements in restoring blood flow and rehabilitation. However, much of the paralysis may remain. In order to reduce the risk for having a stroke, it is important to eat a low-fat diet, control stress and blood pressure, and not smoke.11
Cancer is essentially a large mass of cells that has developed without the body’s permission. It starts off with a few cells that mutate and produce their own cells at such a rapid pace that the mass begins to invade parts of the body. Once the mass becomes big enough, it restricts normal processes in the body until they cannot function, and the body dies.
Several types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate. Other lifestyle-related risk factors for cancer are poor diet, lack of physical activity, use of alcohol and tobacco, and exposure to UV radiation, which can come from the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths.
Since the cause of cancer is still unknown and treatment is no guarantee for extending life, prevention is key. To decrease one’s risk, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends eating 5–7 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables daily. One should include a variety of vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, squash, and onions, to name a few. Some of these vegetables also include vitamins A, C, and E, which have been shown to prevent the formation of some cancers. The ACS also suggests that people have regular colon and rectal exams, especially those over the age of fifty.
The American Cancer Society has suggested the following nutritional guidelines for cancer prevention:12
Millions of Americans have diabetes, a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or respond properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, or the use of glucose (sugar) to provide energy for the body. It also stimulates protein syntheses and fat deposition. When the production or response of insulin is affected, almost every body system can be damaged.
Glucose is the primary form of sugar that body cells use to produce energy. When a healthy person eats a meal, the level of glucose in the blood rises. This triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas. Insulin helps to transport glucose into the cells where it is used to produce energy in a process known as cellular respiration. Without enough insulin, the glucose cannot enter most body cells, and the body’s energy needs cannot be met. The levels of blood glucose continue to rise. Deprived of energy, the body begins to break down the second source of energy, fat. This process produces weak acids, called ketones. The build-up of ketones in the bloodstream is known as ketoacidosis. Its symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, coma, and eventual death.13 The person may also have sweet smelling breath, similar to acetone or fingernail polish.
The major risk factors for diabetes include genetic problems, autoimmune problems, and viral infections. Pregnancy and prolonged periods of stress can change hormone levels by increasing blood sugar and placing a greater demand on the pancreas for insulin. Obesity contributes to body cells resisting the effects of insulin, though insulin is produced in sufficient amounts by the pancreas.14
The complications of diabetes can be physiologically devastating. The constant high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the eyes, heart, and kidneys, leading to blindness, heart attack, and kidney failure. The damaged blood vessels result in poor circulation to the extremities. Damage to the nerves, or neuropathy, may result in permanent numbness of the hands and feet. High blood sugar impairs the body’s resistance to pathogens, which can lead to many infections. A cut or sore on the foot may have a difficult time healing. In fact, the sore may never heal and an amputation may need to be done.
Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, extreme thirst and hunger, fatigue, sugar in the urine, high blood sugar levels, and weight loss. There are two forms of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2, which is more prevalent. Treatment differs for each type. Type 1 typically occurs before age thirty and may begin either rapidly or slowly. The causes of Type 1 are still largely unknown. The patient is typically thin and requires injections of insulin and dietary management to achieve normal glucose levels. Type 2 usually occurs in obese adults after age forty. It is often treated with diet and exercise, and possibly with hypoglycemic (blood glucose lowering) medications.
Although Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, eating well and controlling one’s weight may reduce the risk for Type 2 diabetes and the accompanying complications.
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
3. Springhouse Corporation, Professional Guide to Diseases, 1065–1067
4. Smolin, Nutrition: Science and Applications, 131
5. Donatelle, Access to Health, 376–377
6. Hales, An Invitation to Health, 486
7. Carper, “Eat Smart: 10 Ways to a Healthy Heart,” 9–10
8. American Heart Association
9. Springhouse, 589
10. Ibid., 590–591
11. Donatelle, 375
12. American Cancer Society, “ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention.”
13. Hales, 523
14. Springhouse, 817