Let’s just start with looking at our health problems recently & the statistics. According to the “Mayo Clinic” in 2011 the top male and female problems vary a little. The health problems that are similar to them are the ones we need to be more concerned about since the ones I will be presenting to you are brought on to many Americans cause of poor health habits (which includes diet with activity). They state that cardiac disease is #1 killer for both men and women. The American Heart Association in 2011 state cardiac disease, which does cause many heart attacks and strokes, with killing more people than all forms of cancer combined. Two major factors that would decrease the amount in cardiac disease if people stop smoking and eat HEALTHIER=low fat, low sodium and occasional fast foods, if ever in their diet. Fast foods frequently eaten just doesn’t cut healthy. Another helpful key is routine exercise. *2011 Lung cancer was the cancer that caused most deaths in both men and women. Women are also greatly affected with breast cancer and colorectal cancer, according to the Mayo clinic 2011. To help in decreasing the chance of cancer eat HEALTHY, wear sunscreen, don’t smoke, and get regular cancer screenings. *COPD=Respiratory Diseases classified as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which includes Emphysema or Bronchitis. The National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute in 2011 recommended quit smoking to prevent COPD (esp. Emphysema which is the largest RISK factor in getting it). When you smoke you expand the lung tissue and keep expanding it as you continue smoking. It doesn’t reverse and after years you have difficulty exchanging oxygen (when inhaled) with carbon dioxide (when exhale-ed) at the lung base & this is because of stretching the lung tissue so bad. The answer is either QUIT or NEVER smoke and band smoking. The U.S. lung cancer census would go down markedly in a 5-10 years *Diabetes 2 is a diabetes that you are not born with but can get later in life. It is also a leading killer for both men and women in the U.S. A lot of cases seem to be due to unhealthy eating that goes into obesity that causes the individual to end up with diabetes. This disease causes damage to many organs of the body in time. Due to the high glucose levels (hyperglycemia) it damages the kidney causing for many to be put on hemodialysis 3x/wk usually, giving heart disease, neuropathy (down the legs usually), and retinopathy=blindness, in time. To prevent this disease losing weight (with staying in a normal body mass index), doing routine exercise, and eating healthy will help a great deal, especially started young. *In 2011 Alzheimer’s disease was the fifth leading cause of death in women and the tenth in men. We really don’t know what the etiology is but there may be a link between this disease and heart disease, including head injuries. What could help this prevent this? One eating healthy, two routine exercise-as simple as walking regularly daily or 2 to 3 times a week and eating healthy to prevent cardiac disease. Also, drive safely with the seat belt on, no texting, no cell phone to prevent a MVA & hitting your head. *Kidney disease in 2011 the ninth leading cause of death for both males and females in the U.S. It can be caused by high blood pressure or diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Diabetes Association stressed the importance of keeping your blood sugar under control if you are a diabetic in order to prevent kidney disease if done soon enough. To prevent this disease it is the same as cardiac and diabetes prevention (listed above) but the sooner started the better.
After seeing the disease census 2011 in our country; now the next question would be is there anyway we can decrease diseases in our country overtime, like in a decade or less. Well, all the diseases I covered yesterday are impacted on what healthy habits you practice over a long period of time in your life; than these diseases can be controlled better. Wouldn’t you want to see less disease and more people young and old healthier. I know I sure would after being a RN over a quarter of a century seeing so many diseases and ones that could have been prevented by a society more health oriented than based on their food cravings. We have all heard we need to make sacrifices for certain things in life. Would you think sacrificing fast foods being eaten daily or low glycemic meals in large sizes for all your meals over numerous years that prones you to putting weight on putting you at risk for disease is worth sacrificing? I finally do in my 40’s and it’s not that hard of a sacrifice. You may just like what you see so give it a try. For guidance I found Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson’s book “Dr. A.’s Habits of Health” on a regular basis very helpful. If the majority of America lived healthier like this there would be less disease in our country which would put a positive impact on our health care system for all but it would take a decade but we need to start somewhere and today is the best day to start for both us as well as future generations to come. Eating healthier, losing weight down to the ideal body mass index ratio based on your height, exercise routinely (not necessarily meaning an aerobic work out), and practicing healthy habits would increase your chance of living longer healthy and put your life on a journey .
