The cardiovascular system includes the heart and all the various blood vessels that carry blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, and filter out waste. The heart is made up of four chambers. The atria which receive blood and the ventricles which pump blood back out to the body or lungs. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pushes it out to the lungs to pickup more oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood and sends it out through the network of vessels to be transported to the bodies cells.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is expected to increase over the next decades. Although death rates have decreased due to advances in medicine, the rates of obesity have risen to epidemic levels , thereby increasing CVD. The people who are hit the hardest are often the poorest individuals who may not be able to afford expensive treatments.
Some of the major CVD’s discussed in the chapter are hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke. Hypertension means high blood pressure. Over time it can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels. It is known as the silent killer because it often has few noticeable symptoms in the initial stages. Atherosclerosis refers to plaque buildup in the arteries. These plaques can block blood flow or cause an artery to rupture. According to our readings, most heart attacks occur due to these types of blockages in the coronary arteries. CHD is a narrowing of the vessels that supply the heart. It can lead to a myocardial infarction i.e. heart attack. I was really amazed to learn about the collateral circulation that our bodies can spontaneously build to save us from our damaged vessels. Stroke is caused by a disruption of oxygen to the brain. This can happen due to a blocked vessel or a rupture. I can say from experience, that when I worked in the O.R. many years ago, when a patient came in with an emergency hemorrhagic aneurysm the chances of survival were not very good. Some other cardiovascular diseases include: angina, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, and congenital or rheumatic heart disease.
Risk factors for CVD can be non-modifiable (such as genetics) or modifiable (such as lifestyle). Things like a healthy diet, moderate exercise and decreased stress can make a huge difference in your likelihood of getting CVD.
This weeks reading also went into great detail about cancer. At its most basic description, cancer is a group of abnormal cells that spreads uncontrollably. These cells may form into a neoplasm, which can then become a tumor. If the tumor is malignant, then it is considered cancer. When malignant tumors spread to other areas of the body they are said to have metastasized. Since cancer is a broad term that defines hundreds of different diseases, they are grouped into categories by the types of tissues they attack.
Like CVD, risk factors include modifiable and non-modifiable categories. Some of the modifiable risk factors include: smoking, excess alcohol consumption, poor diet, obesity and stress. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. Second would be Breast or Colon cancer, depending on the sex. This is a particularly relevant subject for me since I have had several family members who have suffered with various forms of cancer.
Diabetes is also a major source of health problems in the USA. It is defined as having too much glucose in your blood. The term used for this is hyperglycemia. According to Donatelle, “Serious health conditions related to diabetes include heart disease, stroke, failure of wounds on extremities to heal (leading to infection and amputations), nerve damage, kidney failure, liver damage, and blindness”. Having previously worked in the O.R. as a surgical tech, I can say that I have seen amputation from untreated diabetes. It’s pretty devastating and so sad that, this kind of outcome is mostly preventable.
Diabetes can be type 1 or type 2. Type 1 is insulin dependent and is much less common than type 2. Type 2 is non-insulin dependent and accounts for about 95% of all diabetes cases. In type 2, either you don’t make enough insulin, or you become insulin resistant and your body can’t process it well. Besides genetics, some of the risk factors for diabetes include: being over weight, eating a poor diet, being sedentary, poor sleep, and excess stress. Funny how poor diet and sedentary behaviors are a common thread through all of these. Definitely makes you think twice about all the little daily choices you make.
As far as my daily choices this week, what can I say. I’m still trying. Some days I feel like I’m 100% all in. Other days, not so much. I haven’t been cooking as much this week, which means trying to make healthy choices while eating out. That’s not as easy. This is something I need to get back on track with. For me it makes a huge difference. The exercising was not what I wanted it to be this week, but I did do several walks with my dogs, so at least I was moving and getting some fresh air. One thing I started doing this week is keeping a log of how I feel throughout the day and comparing it to what I’ve been eating and my exercise. I’m hoping to see some concrete connections to my mood and energy levels. I’m thinking this might help inspire me to stay the course.
Lucy 2.0 My Healthy Journey 