Chapter 11 Blog

11/21/18
Chapter 11 covers risks to cardiovascular health. The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and circulatory system, which are vessels that transport nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body. Some common cardiovascular diseases include atherosclerosis, coronary and peripheral artery diseases, stroke, high blood pressure or hypertension as well as others. Some of our behaviors can put as at increased risk to these diseases. Some of the things we can do are quit smoking, eat a well-balanced diet like what was discussed earlier in the book, and try to exercise more. The book also mentions cancer, which our behavior can also leave us at increased risk for. Smoking and poor diet, among other things, can increase risks for cancer as well. Common cancers are lung, breast, colon or rectum, skin, prostate, testis, ovary and uterus. For cancer, one of the main keys in fighting it is early detection. Survival rate increases dramatically when it is caught earlier in its stages. Some popular treatments for cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapies. Sometimes when people are suffering from forms of cancer, they experience a lack of control or uncertainty with their life. The book recommends trying something like yoga or meditating. This chapter also covers diabetes. Diabetes is a group of diseases that typically includes elevated glucose levels in the blood. In people with type 1 diabetes, their immune system actually attacks the insulin making cells in the pancreas which leads to inability to absorb glucose and therefore, an excess in the blood. In people with type 2 diabetes, their bodies do not make enough insulin for them to use or their cells are resistant. Type 2 can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes.

As for relating to this chapter, I feel like trying to lead a healthy lifestyle has led me to reduce my risks for most of the diseases mentioned in this chapter. All of the behavioral risks are typically looked at as bad for us anyways so I had already been avoiding them. As far as my fitness journey goes, I was able to reach new personal records for myself in the gym on the bench press and I managed to run about 12 miles this week. I’ve been feeling great and am getting myself ready for Thanksgiving where I plan to only eat one plate instead of my usual two and I am also planning on cutting myself off when I feel full rather than eating until I feel sick. Attached is a picture of myself enjoying the last day over 50 degrees in South Eastern Massachusetts.  That was probably the last day I had to fish before it officially gets too cold.