Cardiovascular Disease

Coronary heart disease is directly linked to diet poor diet (mainly large intake of saturated fats, sugar and salts) can lead to diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Saturated fats lead to the production of low-density-lipoproteins also known as bad cholesterol, which carry excess cholesterol into arteries forming plaques hence leading to atherosclerosis. A good diet would be described as low saturated fat, high-fibres and high plant food intake. High blood pressure simply means that the pressure in arteries is higher than normal (this completely depends on the individual however) and occurs because the pressure exerted on the arterial walls are too high and there is more blood volume being pumped than the vessel can take hence why bursting of vessels can occur leading to strokes (haemorrhage or ischaemic). Haemorrhage strokes are when the blood bursts (in the brain) and ischaemic is when the is a blockage of the vessel blocking the flow of blood to an area. This can be caused by diseases such as thrombosis, where a blood clot blocks the narrow pathway, this is why vascular surgeons have to sometimes perform by-pass surgeries on patients.

Atherosclerosis is due to the narrowing of blood vessels cholesterol build up in the arteries narrows the lumen of the vessel (plaque formations), therefore less blood is able to pass through the vessel in the direction of the cells it requires to go to so the heart has to pump harder and faster to deliver the blood quicker. This of course is known as high blood pressure.

Diabetes can be branched into two concepts type 1 diabetes which is due to the loss of insulin secreting cells (this is normally due to genetic factors or autoimmune diseases), and type 2 diabetes which is due to insulin hormone resistance. Diabetes can lead to multiple acute complications such as hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, ulcers, retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, amputations and infections. Therefore diet has multiple linkages to the different types of diseases and illnesses out there. Poor diet and exercise is the leading factor for illnesses of cardiovascular and diabetic patients.

There are multiple treatment plans for hypertension lifestyle modification and medication. Reducing the intake of salt, alcohol and saturated fats but increasing physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption can treat patients on the long term. However sometimes the condition can also be treated with medication, such as ACE inhibitors, B blockers, Diuretics and calcium channel blockers.

Generally patients from a low income tend to have poor nutrition due to the smaller variety of foods available. Especially in developing countries where importing and exporting of food sources are low. Also generally those from a higher socioeconomic status tend to have more education and awareness about the outcomes of poor health. I think as future medics, and current doctors we should build upon increasing social awareness in lower income areas on diabetes, alcohol and cardiovascular diseases specifically because the number of patients are increasing in this sector.