Diseases Associated with Obesity:

Type II Diabetes:

Type II Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin for the body. The body is resistant of what is produced. Insulin in the body is a blood sugar hormone called glucose used for energy. The food that a person eats, the body responds by breaking it down into fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are then broken down into glucose, as the glucose is traveling through the person’s bloodstream, a healthy pancreas will release a regular supply of insulin into the bloodstream. With Type II Diabetes the insulin receptors are less sensitive, the pancreas still produces insulin but it is not enough of which the body needs. High blood glucose can lead into serious problems such as a heart attack, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. By taking medications, a healthy diet, and regular exercising you are most likely to decrease the changes of these complications.

Hypertension:

With stress the blood pressure rises, but with hypertension it rises and stays there even while at rest. The heart will pump blood about 80 times a minute; by doing this it allows the arterials to work the blood flow freely, with little pressure on the vessel walls. When the vessels are constricted, the heart will try to pump more and faster and can lead to troubled arteries over time. The arteries are then stretched with a development of scar tissue. Cholesterol and other deposits can collect onto the grooves and creating Atherosclerotic Plaque. If the plaque grows the arteries becomes stiffer and narrower, causing the heart to pump harder and causing damage to the arteries. Hypertension is twice as strong in obese people. Blood pressure can be affected by smoking, lack of exercise, stress, excessive alcohol use and salt. Although there is no symptoms of hypertension the only way is to have your blood pressure checked.

Heart Attack:

Atherosclerosis is the process of which arteries become narrowed and hardened, causing a heart attack to happen with the blood flow to the heart to be blocked. This usually occurs because fatty deposits called plaque have built up inside the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. If a plaque breaks open, the body tries to fix it by forming a clot around it. The clot can block the artery, preventing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.

Stroke:

A stroke happens when a blood vessel is blocked or ruptures, which keeps oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain. There are two types of strokes: Ischemic and Hemorrhagic each of them are characterized of how they affect the brain. Ischemic strokes are caused when a blood vessels are obstructed, the cutting off of oxygen to the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused when a blood vessel ruptures and spills blood into the brain. All strokes deprive the brain of oxygen, then the brain cells become damaged or die, causing some parts of the body to not function properly. The most serious of a stroke happens in the brain stem which controls life support functions. If the left side of the brain is damaged an Aphasia occurs and the person has difficulty of speech and understanding of language. If the right side is damaged this can leave the person paralyzed on the left side of the body. And all strokes can leave a person with memory loss.

Atherosclerosis:

Atherosclerosis is a buildup of fatty deposits such as cholesterol on the walls of arteries. There’s a major cause of cardiovascular disease, including a stroke or heart attack. There are three layers to a normal artery wall, a thin smooth layer which helps the blood flow, a muscular layer which helps pulse circulate blood and a outer layer that protects the artery. Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are risk factors for damaging the smooth layer of the artery which can lead to atherosclerosis.