Effects of Healthy Eating Habits in The Diagnosis of Atherosclerotic Disease

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the effects of a healthy diet and exercise in the diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease among children between the ages of 10 and15 years. The researcher used a quantitative model to collect data from 400 students through questionnaires and interviews. Notably, 90% of the polls were filled correctly, while the rest did not meet the criteria. Furthermore, 94% of the interviews were successful. After the research was conducted, out of the sample population, 10% of the participants were obese due to poor dietary habits.

The remaining 90% had an average weight, out of which 76% preferred vegetables and fruits, while 14% preferred saturated fatty foods and simple carbohydrates. This research found out that healthy dietary habits and frequent exercise lower the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease. Additionally, most of the causes of atherosclerotic disease can be prevented through regular exercise, healthy diet, and reduced smoking of tobacco.

Introduction

Atherosclerotic disease is a heart condition that occurs when fat, calcium, or cholesterol block the arteries. The accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels reduces the size of arteries, and consequently, decreases the amount of oxygen carried to various body parts. The atherosclerotic disease starts from early childhood and carries on to adulthood. Notably, the condition is more prevalent among overweight and obese children.

A sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits put people at a higher risk of developing the disease. Research shows that 500,000 people die each year as a result of hardening of the arteries (Olišarová, Chloubová, Prokešová, Šedová, & Tóthová, 2019). Yu et al. (2016) also found out that cardiovascular diseases are the third leading cause of death globally. Markedly, 80% of these deaths occur in developing countries as a result of poor nutrition, excess smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. It is, therefore, essential for all nations to allocate some resources to address health issues across all ages to fight cardiovascular diseases.

Proper nutrition reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and boosts the immune system. Parents should monitor the diet that their children because atherosclerotic disease peaks in from childhood and progresses to adulthood. Maintaining a proper weight is also another way of preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Obesity and overweight increase the rate of developing the condition because much weight increases blood pressure and causes diabetes. In this light, it is essential to understand the role of a healthy diet in the wellbeing of the children. A review of the effects of healthy eating habits in the diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease among children aged 10 to 15 years shows that healthy diets, coupled with regular exercise, reduces the risk of developing the condition.

Literature Review

Definition of Atherosclerotic Disease

Atherosclerotic disease is a heart disease that is caused by the accumulation of plaque in the blood arteries. The plague blocks the arteries, which narrows the diameter of the blood vessels gradually. The heart, therefore, has to work harder to supply oxygen to various organs in the body, thus causing high blood pressure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes (Stanner, 2008). Patients with atherosclerotic diseases may develop a complication, but the severity depends on the position of the plaque. For example, if it is near the heart, the risk of developing coronary heart disease increases, which causes angina and heart attacks.

Peripheral artery disease is a complication brought about by a blockage of arteries near the legs and arms, which leads to cold and heat insensitivity. For these reasons, atherosclerotic disease is caused by the presence of high cholesterol in the blood vessels, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Inflammations caused by other conditions such as arthritis may also cause atherosclerotic disease. However, atherosclerotic disease can be controlled through lifestyle and diet changes. Healthy diet intake, regular moderate exercise, and maintaining a proper body weight helps in the prevention and management of atherosclerotic disease.

Effects of a Healthy Diet

Diet is one of the ways of preventing cardiovascular diseases following recommendations from scientists and doctors. Children tend to over consume fast foods and beverages because they want food as soon as they ask for it. They develop more weight and become overweight and obese with time. The effects of overweight and obese may result in atherosclerotic disease. It is, therefore, essential to change the diet that children consume early enough.

The Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease. Initially adopted by the Italians, the diet includes fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, and unprocessed cereals (Novak et al., 2017). It also consists of low to moderate intake of fish, average consumption of wine, and dairy products and low intake of red meat. The diet is recommended as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Excessive intake of saturated fats increases low-density lipoprotein and, therefore, increases the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease. According to Blekkenhorst et al. (2015), saturated fat increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to all other nutrients. LDL particles cause atherosclerotic disease. Thus, it is advisable to reduce the overall intake of fatty fats. Carbohydrates have brought about varying opinions on its effects on the heart.

Notably, they are classified as either simple or complex, depending on the chemical components of the food. Research, however, shows that some of the complex carbohydrates have more sugars than the simple ones (Bland, 2018). Hence, carbs are classified according to their glycemic levels. Using the glycemic index value, people can know the content of the carbohydrates and their effects on the body. Intake of sugars with high glycemic index value increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerotic disease.

Yu et al. (2016) note that the risk is higher in obese and overweight women than men because the former have high insulin resistance. Obese and overweight women are advised to eat carbohydrates with a low glycemic index value and foods rich in fiber. Besides avoiding fatty foods, it is prudent to consume a diet rich in fiber as reduces the risk of coronary heart diseases as well as atherosclerotic disease.

Micronutrients such as vitamins E and C are instrumental in reducing the risk of atherosclerotic disease. Research shows that when vitamins E and C are taken from supplements, they reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions in healthy population but do not reduce the risk in other high- risk population (Bland, 2018).

Vitamin B6 is associated with a lower risk of atherosclerotic diseases, while calcium reduces the risk of stroke but not atherosclerotic disease. Dietary magnesium also reduces the prospect of developing atherosclerotic disease. A study by Ali and Shahid (2016) found out that dietary magnesium lowers the risk of suffering from cardiac death but does not reduce the risk of developing stroke. For these reasons, increased intake of such vitamins lowers the risk of atherosclerotic disease.

Compounds derived from plants also play a significant role in boosting health. For instance, consumption of carotenoid and flavonoid reduces the risk of atherosclerosis (Ali & Shahid, 2016). These plant compounds can be extracted from berries and citrus fruits. The compounds do not, however, reduce the risk of suffering from a stroke.

Some daily beverages help control atherosclerotic disease. Coffee, for instance, is common in the United States, especially during winter. A study by Olišarová et al. (2019) shows that consuming 3-5 cups of coffee daily reduces the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease and the risk of cardiovascular deaths. Earlier studies showed that moderate consumption of coffee increased the risk of cardiovascular mortality (Shah, 2017). However, recent studies have shown no relationship between high risk of atherosclerotic disease and coffee consumption.

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased cardiovascular disease. Yu et al. (2016) state that low to average consumption of alcohol is linked to lower risks of developing myocardial infarction, hypertension, and sudden cardiac arrest. Beverages with added sugars increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Stanner (2008) observe that the intake of drinks with added sugars increases body weight and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The health effects on the heart are detrimental and associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic disease.

Food/ beverage General findings

• Saturated fats: Increases the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease.
• Carbohydrates: High glycemic index value increases the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease.
• Alcohol: Moderate consumption reduces the risk atherosclerotic disease
• Coffee: Reduces the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease.
• vitamin C and E: Regular intake lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Fruits and vegetables: Lowers risk of developing atherosclerotic disease
• Ceratoid and flavonoids: Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

Method

The study population comprised of 200 students from four schools. Random sampling was used to eliminate possible bias. However, in some instances, the researcher handpicked students to ensure a balance between average weight, obese, and overweight children. The researcher explained the purpose of the study and asked the willing sampled population to sign consent forms. Notably, 96% of the sampled population agreed to participate in the survey. They then filled in the questionnaires concerning their diet, including the frequency of consuming certain foods, drinks, and fruits. The researcher also engaged participants in interviews to capture information that had been left out in the questionnaires. The data was then recorded, coded, and analyzed using SPSS. The researcher then interpreted the data and gave recommendations.

Results

Notably, 10% of the participants were either obese or overweight, while 90% had average weight. Overweight children reported to fancy fast foods such as burgers, chips, and beverages with added sugars, while 20% of the children with healthy weight preferred fruits and vegetables due to strict rules by their parents. Besides, 70% liked fast foods but had a low preference for vegetables and fruits. Obese and overweight children reported cases of difficulty in breathing and getting tired fast when conducting simple tasks such as washing, sweeping, and walking, while children with healthy weight reported doing simple tasks comfortably.

Furthermore, 76% of the children consumed coffee as the main beverage in their homes, while 10% consumed dairy products such as milk. Notably, 14% of the participants used both coffee and milk. 50% of the participants eat foods with high fiber, while 30% preferred foods without fiber. The remaining 20% could not tell foods with high fiber and those without low fiber.

Discussion

Obesity and overweight increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. They are caused by a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index value. Eating sugary foods, combined with reduced activity levels, increases body weight, which eventually leads to obesity. Obesity then increases blood pressure, which may trigger cardiac arrest and atherosclerosis (Xu, & Xue, 2016). The condition also reduces the ability of the children to conduct daily tasks as they easily get tired, even for simple tasks. Such conditions raise the risk of developing the atherosclerotic disease, especially in young people.

Many people do not consume foods with high fiber content, as its importance is mostly overlooked. High diet fiber lowers the risk of atherosclerotic disease. From the results, a significant percentage of the children could not differentiate food with high fiber with those without fiber. Hence, it is crucial to create awareness even among children.

Conclusion

Dietary habits are directly linked to heart health. Poor nutritional habits lead to obesity and overweight, which are risk factors for coronary heart diseases. Too much intake of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index value increases the risk of developing the atherosclerotic disease. Regular intake of vegetables, fruits, and nuts lowers the risk of suffering from the condition. Besides, it is evident that the consumption of saturated fatty foods raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Furthermore, low consumption of alcohol, beverages with added sugars, and drinks with low levels of sugars decreases the risk of developing atherosclerotic disease. From this research, it is clear that 87% of the causes of atherosclerotic disease can be prevented by eating a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise and reduced smoking. The findings of the study will help in raising awareness of the effects of diets on the prevention of atherosclerotic disease. As a result, fewer resources will be used in the treatment of such conditions. Besides, it will reduce the mortalities caused by heart diseases.

This study had several shortcomings that reduced the applicability of the findings. For instance, the researcher could not tell whether obese and overweight children had other underlying causes of the change in weight, such as genes and hormonal imbalance. Besides, the authenticity of the questionnaires was not guaranteed. The children may have lied about the foods they ate and preferred.

Cardiovascular disease is prevalent in adolescents and children because of obesity and overweight. The data will be used by stakeholders, such as health practitioners to prevent cardiovascular disease among children and adolescents. The government will also use the information to plan for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Teachers and parents should also use study findings to make healthy diet choices and emphasize play sessions for children and adolescents. Further recommendations include engaging society in nutritional topics and guidelines to create awareness, providing adequate playtime for children both at home and at school, and reducing screen time. The school menu should also reflect healthy meals to ensure that learners feed on a healthy diet.

References

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