atherosclerosis

Statement of inquiry:

Optimal function of systems depends on choices in health and wellness.

Requirements of this project:

1. Research local lifestyle diseases statistics and mortality rates for the specific disease that you have selected.

2. Research changes in nutrition and physical activity that can reduce the likelihood of getting lifestyle disease you have.

3. In your research you must have 4 causes and 4 effects of each diseases

4. Components of health related fitness. What are they?

5. How the lifestyle disease you selected affects (muscular system, muscular strength, flexibility, body composition), cardiovascular system, respiratory system etc)

Research local lifestyle diseases statistics and mortality rates for the specific disease that you have selected.

According to Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, the term lifestyle disease can be defined as diseases that link to the way people or a group live. “Lifestyle diseases include atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke; obesity and type 2 diabetes.” For the purpose of this project I will be researching atherosclerosis.

According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Atherosclerosis, also known as Arteriosclerosis, “is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries.”

In Trinidad and Tobago over 32% of people die of Atherosclerosis annually - as a result of plaque buildup inside arteries - Pan American Health Organization 2019. While the actual statistics for Trinidad and Tobago is not available for how many people are currently living with Atherosclerosis diseases it is estimated to be over 55%. In the Caribbean and in particular Trinidad and Tobago our diet consists of very oily, fatty foods and foods high in carbohydrates. Also a reduction in physical activity and a more sedentary lifestyle all adds to a recipe for atherosclerosis. Consuming the wrong foods as well as lack of exercise causes the plaque to build up and clog our arteries. This build up is caused by person lifestyle.

Research changes in nutrition and physical activity that can reduce the likelihood of getting lifestyle disease you have.

There are many sayings when it comes to diets. ‘You are what you eat.’ ‘If you eat what your parents ate, then you will get the diseases they got.’ These two sayings speak to the core of lifestyle diseases. A good balance diet with some physical activities will reduce or even reverse the likelihood of getting lifestyle diseases.

In particular to atherosclerosis, the changes in nutrition and physical activity that can reduce the likelihood of getting this lifestyle diseases can be found in the publication by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. They recommend to have a ‘Heart-healthy Lifestyle Changes’ that include, healthy eating, managing stress, avoiding smoking, and more physical activity.

Physical Activity

Changes in physical activity would range from a reduction in the sedentary lifestyle where we need to be mindful of sitting at a desk all day, not consciously getting up and walking around to at least doing a moderate aerobic exercise at 2 hours and 30 minutes a week. Vigorous aerobic exercise should be at least 1 hour and 15 minutes a week. Persons would benefit from being active, increasing heart rate and using more oxygen than usual. Benefits may include a reduction in bad cholesterol low-density lipoproteins (LDL) which build up in your arteries, increase good cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which helps remove bad cholesterol, control blood pressure and help reduce weight.

Changes in Nutrition

Eating to reduce the likelihood of atherosclerosis works well with an increase in physical activity. Lifestyle eating change should include consuming ‘vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, lean meats, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, soy products, legumes, and vegetable oils (except coconut and palm oils). Also, it limits sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and alcohol.’

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan which includes:

• Vegetables: such as greens (spinach, collard greens, kale), broccoli, cabbage, and carrots.

• Fruits: such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears, grapes, and prunes

• Whole grains: such as plain oatmeal, brown rice, and whole-grain bread or tortillas

• Dairy: Fat-free or low-fat dairy foods such as milk, cheese, or yogurt

• Protein-rich foods: Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and trout, about 8 ounces a week, Lean meats such as 95 percent lean ground beef or pork tenderloin and Poultry such as skinless chicken or turkey

• Eggs

• Nuts, seeds, and soy products.

• Legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, and lima beans

• Oils and foods containing high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that can help lower blood cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some sources of these oils are: Canola, corn, olive, safflower, sesame, sunflower, and soybean oils

• Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts

• Nut and seed butters

• Salmon and trout

• Seeds such as sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, or flax

• Avocados

• Tofu

DASH works well with an increase in physical activity to reducing the likelihood of atherosclerosis.

Medical Procedures and Surgery

It is important to note that not all person react to physical and nutritional changes at the same rate and sometimes medical procedures and surgery may be the only option that can reduce the likelihood of getting lifestyle disease you have. After medical procedures and surgery Doctors can then recommend a physical and nutritional lifestyle change to prevent or reduce the likelihood of atherosclerosis.

In your research you must have 4 causes and 4 effects of each diseases

Atherosclerosis is a lifestyle disease. Unfortunately the causes of atherosclerosis in most cases are self inflicted. In a previous definition we understand that atherosclerosis is where the arteries become narrowed and hardened due to a buildup of plaque around the artery walls. What causes this buildup?

Causes of Atherosclerosis

According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, atherosclerosis is caused by:

• Smoking

• High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood

• High blood pressure

• High amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes.

In most cases the list above are from bad lifestyle choices. Clearly if a person can stop smoking, consuming foods high in fats, reducing stress and foods high in sugar and carbohydrates control their weight, they can reduce the likelihood of atherosclerosis.

Effects of Atherosclerosis

According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the effects of atherosclerosis are:

• Heart attack: “When atherosclerosis narrows the arteries close to your heart, you may develop coronary artery disease, which can cause chest pain (angina), a heart attack or heart failure, (NHLBI).”

• Stroke: “When atherosclerosis narrows the arteries close to your brain, you may develop carotid artery disease, which can cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke, (NHLBI).”

• Chronic kidney disease: “Atherosclerosis can cause the arteries leading to your kidneys to narrow, preventing oxygenated blood from reaching them. Over time, this can affect your kidney function, keeping waste from exiting your body, (NHLBI).”

• Death.

The effects of atherosclerosis can be devastating! Patients tend to fall into depression when diagnosed with atherosclerosis. Phycological help is often recommended by Doctors with patients with atherosclerosis.

Components of health related fitness. What are they?

There are five areas of health related fitness to gauge how good a shape we are in:

• Heart and lung endurance or cardiovascular endurance,

• Muscular strength,

• Muscular endurance,

• Flexibility,

• Body composition.

Heart and lung endurance or cardiovascular endurance:

Sustaining oxygen and fuel to the body during running, cycling, swimming requires the heart and lungs to work together. This working together of the heart and lungs gauges our cardiovascular endurance.

Muscular strength

To gauge our muscular strength we need to measure the amount of force a muscle can produce. Weight lifting including bench press (chest strength), leg press (leg strength), bicep curls (arm strength) or even simple pushups will gauge our muscular strength.

Muscular endurance

Unlike muscular strength that measures force of the muscle, muscular endurance measures continuous muscle performance overtime without getting tired. Sit ups or lifting weights with many repetitions can measure muscular endurance.

Flexibility

Flexibility is using a range of motion through specific joints. When joints are freely moving and muscles are stretched long enough you are considered ‘flexible.’ The sit and reach test is used to test flexibility.

Body composition

Body composition is the balance or make up of your body in terms of fat, muscle mass, bone and organs. If body composition is not balanced you are more likely to become sick or higher mortality. The body mass index or BMI is a popular way to measure body composition using weight to height ratio.

How the lifestyle disease you selected affects (muscular system, muscular strength, flexibility, body composition) , cardiovascular system, respiratory system etc)

Lifestyle disease atherosclerosis can make havoc to health related fitness. Atherosclerosis in heart arteries affects cardiovascular endurance. You will have severe chest pain and pressure. The medical term for this is Angina. Muscular systems including strength is also affect by atherosclerosis. When there is atherosclerosis in arteries leading to your brain affects your vision, you may have symptoms such as sudden lack of sensation or weakness in your arms or legs, slurred speech and drooping muscles in your face. These signal a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which, if left untreated, may progress to a stroke. Atherosclerosis in the arteries in your arms and legs will affect walking. Poor blood circulation will cause pain in arms and legs. The medical term for this is Claudication.

Based on the above atherosclerosis will affect breathing/ shortness of breath. Flexibility is compromised based on the pain in the muscle and joints so simple stretching may be a problem. BMI balance is now problematic because expertise is now painful and may not be possible based on the signs and symptoms above.

People with atherosclerosis may have an additional problem. Part of their solution, exercise, is causing them pain. A heart-healthy lifestyle can lower the risk. This includes eating DASH foods, moving from a not a sedentary lifestyle to an active lifestyle, Maintaining a healthy weight and stop smoking. All of these things have many benefits for your health related fitness and your blood vessels. If your risk is high, you might also take medicines that lower your risk. These include medicines to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Balance is the key.

Citations

• https://www.uofmhealth.org/

• https://www.mayoclinic.org

• https://www.spps.org

• https://www.webmd.com

• https://www.randall.k12.wi.us/cms/lib/WI01001877/Centricity/Domain/52/Fitness%20Focus.pdf

• https://www.health.harvard.edu/

• https://www.paho.org/salud-en-las-americas-2012/index.php?option=com_docman&view=download&category_slug=hia-2012-country-chapters-22&alias=149-trinidad-tobago-149&Itemid=231&lang=en

• What Is Atherosclerosis? - NHLBI, NIH". www.nhlbi.nih.gov. 22 June 2016

• What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Atherosclerosis? - NHLBI, NIH. ”www.nhlbi.nih.gov. 22 June 2016.

• Ross R (April 1993). "The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: a perspective for the 1990s”

• Arrhythmia. Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03.