Between fast foods and cardiovascular diseases

Lets digress a little.

Between fast foods and cardiovascular diseases
By Akor Ojoma

Due to the overwhelming need to have many things done fast these days, time has become golden, thus the need to eat fast and on the go has been answered by fast foods.  The lure of fast foods is the speed with which the food is produced.
The temptation to take the easy way and eat fast food is strong especially if you are tired of work and are in no mood to cook. Fast foods do not only mean hamburgers and French fries but other foods that are usually cooked with oil and have considerable amounts of unhealthy fats in them too. Some pizzas can be considered fast foods as well as some Chinese takeout foods.

However, fast foods and cardiovascular diseases (that is diseases relating to the heart and blood vessels) go hand in hand. The link between fast food and heart disease is very real and medical practitioners have long been warning people regarding the implications of eating too much fast food without any proper form of exercise.

According to medical experts, there is strong correlation between unhealthy eating habit, our lifestyle and cardiovascular diseases. They say the high rate of cardiovascular diseases among the youths these days is because they are not eating healthily and exercising enough. Parents who delight in feeding their kids on fast foods are advised against it.

Managing director of  Emzor Pharmaceuticals and Chairman Chike Okoli Foundation, a foundation championing the crusade on healthy eating and exercise, Chief Stella Okoli said, “these days it is fashionable to eat foods with chemicals and many fats, thinking we are enjoying but are rather  killing ourselves gradually. We should exercise more, eat more natural foods and patronise less of fast foods” she said.

The World Health Organization says “cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease that is heart attacks , cerebrovascular disease, raised blood pressure  also called hypertension, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure. The major causes of cardiovascular disease are tobacco use, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet.”

Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death and are projected to remain so. An estimated 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30 % of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 7.6 million were due to heart attacks and 5.7 million due to stroke. About 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. If current trends are allowed to continue, by 2015 an estimated 20 million people will die from cardiovascular disease, mainly from heart attacks and strokes.

There are multiple risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity and such people need to beaware and make life style changes  to prevent it at all cost.

The link between fast food and heart disease lies in several factors such as the quality of the food, the way the food is cooked and the frequency of the fast food meal.

Quality of food

Hardly any fast food chain serves lean meat. Others use meat which may have fats mixed with them. The reason why fast food and heart disease work out dangerously is that the fats contained in the food are usually animal fats. These can add to plaque and fatty deposits in arterial walls. Fats can also affect the quality of our blood and being obese can construct out blood vessels and arteries.

The way fast foods are cooked

The way fast food is cooked also contributes to the link between fast food and heart disease. Primarily, the kind of oil used to fry the hamburger pastries and French-fries can contribute to heart disease. Re-using the oil can also affect people not only in the aspect of heart disease but also in other forms of diseases. Cancer is one disease that can be triggered by using oil too many times.

Symptoms of cardiovascular diseases

Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels. A heart attack or stroke may be the first warning of underlying disease.

Symptoms of a heart attack include: pain or discomfort in the centre of the chest; pain or discomfort in the arms, the left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back. In addition the person may experience difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath; feeling sick or vomiting; feeling light-headed or faint; breaking into a cold sweat; and becoming pale. Women are more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg, most often on one side of the body. Other symptoms include sudden onset of: numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech; difficulty seeing with one or both eyes; difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; severe headache with no known cause; and fainting or unconsciousness.

People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

Prevention

The Word Health organization advises that  being overweight increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To maintain an ideal body weight, take regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet. Eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day, also helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Cessation of tobacco use reduces the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

It also advises:

“Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If you have diabetes control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize your risk. Heart attacks and strokes can strike suddenly and can be fatal if assistance is not sought immediately.”

Experts also advises that to prevent heart diseases through healthy eating one should limit unhealthy fats and cholesterol.

“The best way to reduce saturated and trans fats in your diet is to limit the amount of solid fats — butter, margarine and shortening — you add to food when cooking and serving. Use low-fat substitutions when possible for a heart-healthy diet. Also choose low-fat protein sources like lean meat, poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products and egg whites or egg substitutes are some of your best sources of protein. But be careful to choose lower fat options, such as skim milk rather than whole milk and skinless chicken breasts rather than fried chicken patties. Fish is another good alternative to high-fat meats. Legumes — beans, peas and lentils — also are good sources of protein and contain less fat and no cholesterol, making them good substitutes for meat. And finally eat more vegetables and fruits.”

By Akor Ojoma