I have many reasons for wanting to eat
healthy. I want to look good and feel better. I want to have more energy and be
able to keep up with my children. I also have a lot of motivation to eat
healthy, like my family history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and
stroke. But when I actually sat down and researched just how my unhealthy
habits were affecting my body, my mind was made up that I need to make a
change.
Since
starting this blog in January, I have lost 23 pounds. I have struggled to stay on
track and to get in the gym to exercise 3 days a week. Losing weight is not an
easy task. Sure all you have to do is consume fewer calories than your body
expends during the day, but that is easier said than done. Just like alcohol
and drug use, eating is an addiction. And just like alcohol and drugs, when
abused eating can be potentially dangerous to your health. As children most of
us are raised to associate eating with happy times in life, we eat big meals at
family gatherings, and we also learn to eat during times of stress. Eating is
comforting, and eating our favorite foods makes us feel oh so good. But if
anyone would have stopped to explain to us at a young age that all of this
eating was destroying our body, I’m sure we would have re-evaluated all the
comfort eating we have done over the years.
Cardiovascular
Disease
What exactly is cardiovascular
disease? Well according to the American Heart
Association (AHA),
“Heart and blood vessel disease — cardiovascular disease also called heart disease — includes
numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque
builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries,
making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop
the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke”. Many cardiovascular problems fall under this
umbrella such as, heart attack, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke,
hypertension, heart failure, heart valve problems, and cardiac arrhythmias. All
of these problems are a result of clogged blood vessels due to unhealthy eating
and sedentary lifestyle. Most cardiovascular disease can be prevented by
maintaining a healthy body weight and engaging in moderate exercise.
Heart
attack is one of the most predominantly seen negative effects of unhealthy
eating. A heart attack occurs when the flow of oxygen rich blood to a section
of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. If blood flow isn’t quickly restored,
the section of the heart muscle begins to die. Heart attacks most often occur
as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is
when fatty waxy plaque caused by unhealthy eating blocks the coronary vessels.
Heart attacks can be so mild that there are minimal effects from it, or it can
be fatal. Often heart attacks lead to heart failure or cardiac arrhythmias.
Heart failure is when the heart becomes so weak or damaged that it can’t pump
blood out to the body properly. Cardiac arrhythmias can lead to lethal heart
rhythms that cannot sustain life. Some people with permanent extensive heart
damage have to follow a life time regimen of medications, healthy eating, and
refraining from sedentary lifestyles. According to the American Heart Association, “You can avoid heart problems in the future by adopting a
healthy lifestyle today. These five simple steps can get you started; don’t
smoke or use tobacco, exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week,
eat a heart healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and get regular health
screening.” Most heart attacks and heart disease complication are totally
preventable.
Stroke is the next leading
complication that results from unhealthy eating and obesity. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain
is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and food.
Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. The result of this could be loss of
body movement, memory, or speech. The effects or loss of body functions depends
on what area of the brain is affected. Strokes can me mild an can cause loss of
body function for a small time, or a massive stroke can cause paralysis on one
side of the body with the inability to speech. A stroke is a medical emergency,
and if prompt medical help is not received a stroke can be fatal. The National Stroke
Association states, “Stroke
risk can be controlled easier than one might think. With the help
of a doctor, many diseases that increase risk can be treated, while
lifestyle risk factors such an unhealthy eating and smoking can be changed”.
The
heart is the vital organ of life; it pumps blood and oxygen throughout the
body. When the heart is not working properly life cannot be sustained. Eating
unhealthy causes many preventable complications that affect the heart
negatively. Much research has been done that proves with healthy eating and
moderate exercise many people can prevent diseases of the heart. Knowing this
information has largely impacted my reason for wanting to eat right. I have
also learned that the occasional cheeseburger or slice of chocolate is within
reason for any healthy person, so with that in mind I continue on my journey of
healthy eating.
Works Cited
Am I at Risk for Stroke? (n.d.). Retrieved March
2, 2012 from
What is Heart
Disease? (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2012 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Conditions_UCM_001087_SubHomePage.jsp.
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