Hey Guys! Welcome back. This weeks chapter discussed cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. This chapter was JAM packed with information a lot of which was material that I had previously gone over in other classes. These three conditions are the top causes of death in the united states and a lot of our life style factors as Americans contribute to these conditions. The information about the heart, chambers and blood flow was a good review of my previous knowledge. Cardiovascular disease has claimed around 17 million lives around the globe EACH year. By 2030, cardiovascular disease related deaths are expected to increase to nearly 24 million per year. I’ve considered the health burden of cardiovascular disease, however something that the book spoke on was the economic burden which I didn’t even consider. In our society, more than $316 billion has been spent on this disease. This large economic burden is only predicted to rise in the coming years. Out of all the major cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease is the greatest killer, accounting for about 1 in 7 deaths in the United States.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. An important part of this section was key signs of a stroke. Below I will list these signs.
- Facial Droop. Ask the person to smile. It is normal for both sides of the face to move equally, and not normal for the sides to be different.
- Arm Weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. It is abnormal if one arm drifts or cannot be raised as high as the other.
- Speech Difficulty. Have the patient restate a sentence such as “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Note any slurring or impairment for this is abnormal.
- Time to Act and call 9-1-1. Don’t wait if you note any of the above.
There are many risk factors to CVD Cardio vascular disease. Increased body weight, cholesterol and blood pressure smoking are all risk factors. Modifying some of these behaviors is necessary in preventing this disease. Even just being around someone who smokes often is putting you at increased risk. Exercising regularly is important in preventing this disease to keep your heart and body healthy. There are several factors that are non modifiable that may predispose you for CVD. Certain races and ethnicities are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease such as African Americans. Heredity, such as family history can also put you at higher risk. Gender is important in considering risk factors as well, since men are more likely than women to develop it.
Cancer, we all hate the word but what is it? Cancer is an umbrella term for the abnormal growth and division of cells. Of all the risk factors for cancer, smoking is the #1. In the United States, smoking tobacco is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths annually.Stress, obesity and alcohol are also related risk factors for cancer. As with anything there are also genetic factors that can pre-dispose a person for cancer. There are many types of cancer just a few being lung, skin, colon and breast. The section “coping with cancer takes more than just medicine,” was something that I feel is so important. Mindful based Intervention has proven to work for those with cancer and provide a useful coping strategy. 77% of all cancers are detected in adults aged 55 or older. Early detection is so important to a successful treatment.
Diabetes is characterized by a persistently high level of glucose in the blood.
Serious health conditions can result from diabetes include heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, liver damage, and blindness. There are two types of diabetes, type one and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-making cells. By stopping insulin production, cells cannot take up glucose, and blood glucose levels become permanently elevated. Then there is type 2 diabetes which is much more common, which insulin resistance is due to free fatty acid. Often times lifestyle factors determine the development of type 2 diabetes such as being overweight, inactive and unhealthy in eating habits. Over 30 million Americans have diabetes.
This weeks reading raised a lot of flags for me. I have several lifestyle habits that put me at predisposition for ALL of these very serious diseases. My wellness journey has raised my awareness and lead me to be much more aware of my lifestyle choices. So many people die yearly of these very serious diseases, and this raises a HUGE economic burden on our society. While we cannot change genetic predisposing factors we should change our lifestyle choices to save ourselves and our economy.
This week has been difficult for me and my health journey. I have been receiving compliments on my weight loss more often especially when I’m in my newly baggy work scrubs. My diet has taken a 360 turn and I usually opt for the healthy choice these days. Last week my aunt passed away and it set me back a bit. My aunt raised me and had a big part in my upbringing and my current day to day life. Losing my aunt, has set me back a bit in my health journey. People have been so kind by sending pizzas, pastas and ALL the sweets. I have been coping unhealthily by eating WAY to much. I have also been so preoccupied with family things and skipped several days of working out. I hope to get back to things this week and continue with my progress.
Tori'sHealthJourney 