A New Viewpoint!

Welcome back! I am working on a new series of questions that people want answered I will feature a person's question and respond in an article after a bit of research. I liked some of the previous topics I received over Heart Attacks and Diabetes, so keep them coming!

What is a heart attack?

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack, also  known as either  myocardial infarction, cardiac infarction, or coronary thrombosis, is when the blood flow to the heart is reduced or blocked. The heart attack occurs when calsified plaque is built up and then clogs the main blood-oxygen passage to the heart. Some of the main causes of heart attacks are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, stress, smoking and lifestyle issues. Heart attacks are getting to be more and more common with people in the United States because of unhealthy eating habits. About every 34 seconds, someone has experienced some blockage and has a heart attack. The diagnosed victims are taken to the hospital to be under strict coronary care for a minimum of 36 hours. During this time the patient will undergo drug therapy, blocker drugs and other medications to calm the heart. Aspirin is then given to reduce the clotting that may occur.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Although heart attacks are sudden, there can be some warning and symptoms to help catch the heart attack sooner. Some of the symptoms are of the following: Chest discomfort, coughing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, graying face, restlessness, and the patient is clammy. The heart attack will usually start with pain in the chest and then spread to the jaw, neck, arms, wrists, and then into the back and shoulders.

What causes a heart attack?

One of the main factors is an unhealthy diet, which is the main cause of many diseases. Other causes are Diabetes, obesity, blood cholesterol levels, and all of these relate back to the unhealthy diet. Some of the others  are because of physical inactivity. Also other factors are age, usually in men over 45 years and women over 55 years, genes, smoking, and calcium supplements. If you can work to maintain a healthy diet and keep consistent with exercises, most of these issues can be prevented.

What can I do to minimize the risks?

The first thing that I really stress is a healthy diet consisting of vegetables and fruits and less of the fatty red meats and processed foods. Another helpful item of concern is the amount of sleep you get and the reduction of stress levels. Stress adds extra chemicals to the body that act against your body. The next thing you can do is increase your exercise and stay consistent with it. Your exercise doesn’t need to be intense and stressful, but it needs to be moderate and daily. If you have diabetes, keep it under control and take care of your levels. If you are overweight, lose that weight as soon as you can. The added weight can overstress your body and can also aid the blockage of the blood passages. Finally do not smoke, because smoking adds extra chemicals that will stress your system and can also lead to an imbalance in blood levels. Overall watch you physical activity and maintain a healthy diet. Consult your doctor on what would be a healthy diet and exercise plan for you.

What Is Diabetes and How Can It Be Prevented?

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes, formally known as diabetes mellitus, is becoming an issue mainly in the United States and in other countries as well. Diabetes is classified when the body can not make enough or use any of the insulin produced. It is also classed as a disorder through metabolism, or the way our bodies utilize the digested foods for growth and energy. Most of the foods we consume are broken down into a form of sugar in the blood, called glucose. During the digestion of our foods, the glucose gets into our bloodstreams. Glucose is key in our energy and growth but can not enter our cells without the help of insulin. Insulin is the key factor in the diagnostics of diabetes.

How many types of diabetes are there?

Aside from the small diagnostics of prediabetes and such, there are three main types. Those types are: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. These three are the types most talked about and most diagnosed. The first, Type 1, is caused because the body is not producing enough insulin to aid in the movement of glucose. Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed usually between the teenage years and about 40. It is still originally diagnosed after age 40, but is not commonly seen. Even though this is diagnosed often, it only accounts for 10% of all diabetes cases. These patients have to take insulin injections for the rest of their lives to prevent a more severe case. These people also have to follow a special diet and regular blood tests to make sure their blood-glucose levels are at proper levels.

The next form of diabetes is the type 2 diabetes, which is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or proper function. This form of diabetes makes up about 90% of all the cases worldwide. Type 2 diabetes, unlike Type 1, does not have a specific age group, but was first called an adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 now accounts to more children because of rising childhood obesity. Children are learning from the adults and are not eating healthy or getting enough exercise in aiding the different levels associated with the diabetes diagnostics. Although some cases are caused genetically, most are because of poor health decisions. The risks can include but are not limited to diseases, heart attacks, eye problems, foot problems such as ulcers-bad enough to be amputated, and skin infections. The problem with type 2 diabetes is that it can be prevented, but instead it makes up for 90% of the cases worldwide.

The final form of diabetes is in women during childbirth. This form is known as Gestational Diabetes and is prominent during pregnancies. It is caused by not enough insulin produced to make up for the high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This prevents the transporting of the glucose into the cells, resulting in very high levels of glucose. This can be controlled by exercise and diet, but if it goes unnoticed it can cause risks during childbirth. The baby may be bigger than he or she should have been.

How can I prevent or reduce the risk of diabetes?

You can lower the chances dramatically by changing your lifestyle. By making these changes you could also be lowering the chances of getting a heart disease and even some cancers. First, get off of that couch! Long television-watching is not beneficial to your health. It is estimated that every two hours spent watching TV instead of being active increases the chances of developing diabetes by 20 percent, heart diseases by 15, and early death by 13 percent. Get out and do some simple exercises or a simple walk. Doing a little bit everyday will help reduce the risks and benefit you greatly. Another thing, is to work on changing the diet. Eat more whole grains, skip the sugary drinks, choose good fats instead of bad fats, limit the red-meat consumptions, stop smoking, and drink a lot more water. Preventing diabetes is simple and can be summed up in five words: stay lean and keep active!