Cai 1

Erwin Cai
Juliann Angert
AP Literature
20 March 2016
High Blood Pressure, Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease
Lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are
different aspects of a worldwide health epidemic, but they share one special trait: they are
preventable and treatable by simple lifestyle changes. High blood pressure, a difficulty in blood
flow caused by thickened arteries, can lead to many other diseases such as stroke and heart
disease and is often caused by an unhealthy diet. Obesity, commonly defined as a dangerously
high body fat percentage, often leads to other health complications such as heart disease, but a
regiment of exercise and regular dieting has proven very effective in treating it. Diabetes mellitus
refers to the disease of blood sugar and insulin; it is closely related to obesity and unhealthy
dieting and exercising habits. Heart disease, the number one killer in the United States, is linked
to many other lifestyle diseases and has similar causes. Although influenced by countless factors
including ones outside human control such as genetics, simple changes in diet and exercise
habits are often the most effective way to prevent and treat these diseases.
Although its causes are unknown, high blood pressure is linked to several factors,
including gender, race and age, as well as many other lifestyle diseases; however, it is easily
treatable and preventable through diet and exercise. Though silent and often unnoticed, high
blood pressure or hypertension is a major contributor to many diseases including heart disease
and stroke, the number one and number three killers in the United States ("Facts about How to
Prevent High Blood Pressure" 1); however, lifestyle changes such as dietary changes and an

Cai 2
increase in exercise can be very effective in treating it. Blood pressure is a frequently used
medical measurement taken as a general indicator of health, measuring how hard the heart works
to pump blood. It is given as a pair of numbers which represent the upper bound and lower
bound of blood pressure. Typical or average values of blood pressure vary, but experts frequently
define high blood pressure as an upper bound of 140 mm Hg and a lower bound of 90 mm Hg
(Wexler, Chronic Diseases: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention). High blood pressure is
incredibly prevalent in American society: Nora L. Keenan and Kimberly A. Rosendorf of the
CDC report that in 2005-08, 29.9% of all U.S. adults aged 18 years and older were hypertensive
(Wexler, Chronic Diseases). Although the causes of high blood pressure are not known, certain
races, genders, and ages have greater incidence:
High blood pressure is more common--it develops earlier and is more severe--in AfricanAmericans than in whites. In the early and middle adult years, men have high blood
pressure more often than women. But as men and women age, the reverse is true. More
women after menopause have high blood pressure than men of the same age. And the
number of both men and women with high blood pressure increases rapidly in older age
groups. ("Facts about How to Prevent High Blood Pressure" 1).
There is a strong correlation between whether or not one has high blood pressure and whether or
not one has obesity or diabetes. According to Braus, Metabolic syndrome a cluster of risk
factors that includes high blood pressure increases the risk for both diabetes and heart
disease (Heart Disease). There is a strong relationship between blood pressure and obesity
and diabetes. According to Wexler, People with diabetes (57.3%) had a significantly higher
prevalence of hypertension than those without diabetes (28.6%). Similarly, more people who
were obese (39.8%) had hypertension, compared with those who were not obese (25.8%)

Cai 3
(Chronic Diseases). Although the causes are still not understood, it has become apparent that
diet and lifestyle changes are essential to control hypertension. Some people with only
mildly elevated blood pressure need only to reduce or eliminate salt in their diet. Blood pressure
in overweight or obese people often declines when they lose weight (Wexler, Chronic
Diseases). Wood and Rosenbaum corroborate the benefits of exercise: Typical cardiovascular
adaptations to regular aerobic physical training include lowered blood pressure (Womens
Health, Effects of Exercise on). Because of its reputation as a silent killer (Wexler, Chronic
Diseases) and its linkage to other even more severe lifestyle diseases, it is important to
frequently check ones blood pressure and to choose a diet low in sodium and a lifestyle high in
exercise.
Although receiving relatively little attention in the context of deadly diseases, obesity has
been linked to heart disease and stroke, two of the top three killers in the United States; however,
treatment is relatively simple, requiring only dedication to dieting and exercise. Obesity has
reached epidemic proportions within the United States, affecting millions of American citizens.
(Watkins). Watkins goes on to attribute this vast incidence to be the result of a modern trend
toward elevated daily caloric intake combined with a decrease in physical activity (Obesity).
Obesity is defined as a condition where the bodies of mammals have stored so much natural
energy reserves that the fatty tissues have expanded to a point where it is a significant health
risk (Watkins). Although there are many methods of measuring body fat to diagnose obesity, the
most frequent are body mass index or BMI, blood tests, and skinfold measurements. BMI is
simply a height-to-weight ratio, and if one has a BMI of over 30, then that individual is
considered obese (Watkins). The issue with BMI is that it does not consider muscle mass, so
athletes can often be considered obese despite having very low body fat. One can also do a type

Cai 4
of blood test using a compound that does not bind well to fat, where a water-soluble
compound is injected into the person. After allowing some time for the substance to
distribute blood samples are taken (Watkins).There is also the easier method of using skinfold
calipers, where an instrument is used to measure the thickness of skin folds at certain body
regions (Watkins), and these measurements are used to determine body fat percentage. Obesity
is becoming a widespread issue: According to the CDC, by 2016 every state in the U.S. had an
obesity rate of at least 20 percent or higher (Watkins). This high rate of incidence is attributable
to many factors, including a genetic predisposition to excess eating and weight gain, culture,
infant feeding patterns, and various disorders and syndromes which can cause excessive eating
and/or weight gain, although it does not seem that this issue is gender-related (Watkins). Obesity
can cause a wide range of health effects: Two leading causes of death among adults are heart
disease and stroke. People who are overweight are more likely to [be at] risk for both.
Another major disease that is linked to obesity is diabetes (Watkins). Yet, it is not expensive
or impossible to combat obesity, as the best treatment is diet and exercise since the condition is,
by definition, excess weight: To lose weight and keep it off, an obese person must change eating
habits permanently and engage in increased physical activity (Watkins). In addition to its health
effects, there are a myriad of social and economic implications, including U.S. opposition to the
WHO strategy [to reduce global obesity rates] (Wexler, Political, Legal, and Social Issues of
Overweight and Obesity) and the sobering fact that the cost of obesity in the United States
[made up] 12% of the national health-care budget in the late 1990s (Wexler, The Economics of
Overweight and Obesity). These further emphasize the necessity of a personal plan for diet and
exercise to treat and prevent obesity.

Cai 5
Although a complex misunderstood disease, diabetes can pose a significant threat to an
individuals health; fortunately, it, as many other lifestyle diseases, can be treated with diet and
exercise. Although frequently termed diabetes, the disease affecting insulin levels in the blood is
actually diabetes mellitus, the most common, whereas diabetes is the more general medical term
to describe multiple distinctive disorders that have the symptom of excessive urination in
common (Basile). Diabetes mellitus is a condition where affected individuals have excessive
blood glucose because of a deficiency in the production or utilization of the hormone insulin
(Basile). Diabetes mellitus has three types: type I where the own immune system attacks the
insulin of the individual, type II where cells no longer respond to the bodys insulin, and
gestational where pregnant women develop an insulin deficiency (Basile). Both type I and type II
diabetes have different causes, yet both have genetic components (Basile). The incidence rate
is climbing: According to the American Diabetes Association, the number of individuals with
diabetes in the United States in the year 2002 reached 6.3% of the population, or 18.2 million
(Basile). Type II diabetes, the less genetically-linked, is associated with obesity, family history
of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes physical inactivity, older age, and specific
ethnicities (Basile). Both types of diabetes can be diagnosed with simple blood tests, of which
two of three must test positive (on separate days) for a positive diagnosis. According to Basile,
The risk for death among individuals with diabetes is approximately two times that of nondiabetics. cardiac disease and stroke were determined to be the leading cause of diabetesrelated mortality (Diabetes). Luckily, some relatively simple lifestyle changes can be very
effective in treating diabetes: Diabetes is treated with meal planning, exercise, medication, and
blood glucose monitoring. Meal planning involves eating the right amount of food at the right
time. Exercise helps to reduce stress, controls blood pressure and blood fats, and improves

Cai 6
insulin resistance (Meyers and Tate). Linked to several other lifestyle diseases, it is important to
take diabetes seriously and to consider a proper health-lifestyle plan, for both treatment and
prevention, immediately.
Thoroughly researched, heart disease is the leading killer of people in developed
countries, although it can also be prevented with consistent dieting and exercise. In fact, though
all aforementioned diseases are major issues on their own, they pose another major threat in their
linkage to heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women [in the United
States] (Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean Cataldo, and Atkins). In fact, Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean
Cataldo, and Atkins go on further to note that The Heart Foundation states that Every 33
seconds someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease, which is roughly the
equivalent of a September 11th-like tragedy repeating itself every 24 hours, 365 days a year
(Heart Disease). Heart disease is defined as a group of conditions affecting the structure and
functions of the heart (Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean Cataldo, and Atkins), including blocked blood
vessels and limited blood flow. The most effective method of diagnosis is an angiogram, which
involves taking x-ray pictures of the coronary arteries and the vessels that supply blood to the
heart (Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean Cataldo, and Atkins). Numerous things can put you at risk,
including diabetes, a family history, elevated blood pressure, obesity (Braus). It is directly
caused by a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, restricting blood flow and causing health
issues (Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean Cataldo, and Atkins). According to Silverstein, Silverstein, and
Silverstein Nunn, Heart disease is currently the number one killer in developed countries, and a
rapidly growing health problem in Third World nations as well. In the United States, diseases of
the heart account for close to two-thirds of the deaths each year more than 700,000 deaths in
2000 (Heart Disease). This is corroborated by Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean Cataldo, and Atkins:

Cai 7
heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and it is a major cause of
disability. As of 2013, the CDC states that about 600,000 people die of heart disease in the
United States each year, about 25% of all deaths (Heart Disease). In fact, although associated
with older individuals, many teenagers, children, and even newborn infants are affected as well
(Silverstein, Silverstein, and Silverstein Nunn). Although heart disease is often serious enough to
require major medical treatment such as surgery and powerful medication, oftentimes the best
method of prevention and one crucial element of treatment is exercise and proper dieting: the
[American Heart Association] advised a diet containing a variety of nutrient-rich foods,
including fruits, fish, vegetables, high fiber whole grains, and nuts, along with limiting the
amount of saturated and trans fats and added sugars. Regular aerobic exercise can lower blood
pressure, help control weight (Ford-Martin, Wells, Jean Cataldo, and Atkins). Although
certainly a frightening disease, heart disease can be prevented relatively effectively and even
treated effectively with a regiment of exercise and dieting.
Although all scary and potentially deadly diseases, one can take comfort in the fact that
by implementing a healthy diet and exercise regiment, one can significantly reduce the risk of
developing any of the four. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, obesity, or excessive fat,
diabetes, or insulin deficiency, and heart disease, or heart and blood issues, are all linked, and
developing one can lead to development of one or more of the others, only increasing the
importance of a healthy lifestyle consisting of clean eating, including a diet consisting of fruits,
fish, vegetables, high fiber grains, and nuts, and high levels of exercise. Anyone can achieve a
high level of fitness: With discipline [being shredded] is certainly attainable by anyone
(Douville). Douville also notes the importance of moderation in dieting: A coke and a burger
every now and then isnt [sic] terrible as long as your overall lifestyle is active and healthy. Set

Cai 8
realistic goals that build up step by step to your main goal (Personal interview). Fending off the
top causes of death in the United States can be as simple as getting out jogging a few times a
week and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Cai 9
Works Cited
Basile, Maria. "Diabetes." The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Ed. Brigham
Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 348-57. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
Braus, Patricia. "Heart Disease." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner
and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2014. N.
pag. Student Resources in Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Douville, David. Personal interview. 28 February 2016.
"Facts about How to Prevent High Blood Pressure." National Institutes of Health, 1994.
Web.
Ford-Martin, Paula, Ken R. Wells, Laura Jean Cataldo, and William A. Atkins. "Heart
Disease." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 5th ed.
Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2015. N. pag. Science in Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Meyers, Margaret, and Phyllis Tate. "Diabetes Mellitus." The Gale Encyclopedia of
Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 5th ed. Farmington Hills,
MI: Gale, 2014. N. pag. Student Resources in Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Silverstein, Alvin, Virginia B. Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein. Nunn. Heart Disease.
Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century, 2006. Print.
Watkins, Terry. "Obesity." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2014. N. pag.
Student Resources in Context. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
Wexler, Barbara. "Chronic Diseases: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention." Health and
Wellness: Illness among Americans. 2012 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2013. N. pag.

Cai 10
Information plus Reference Ser. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Feb.
2016.
Wexler, Barbara. "Political, Legal, and Social Issues of Overweight and Obesity." Weight
in America: Obesity, Eating Disorders, and Other Health Risks. 2010 ed. Detroit:
Gale, 2010. N. pag. Information plus Reference Ser. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
Wexler, Barbara. "The Economics of Overweight and Obesity." Weight in America:
Obesity, Eating Disorders, and Other Health Risks. 2007 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2007.
N. pag. Information plus Reference Ser. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28
Feb. 2016.
Wood, Malissa J., and Lisa Rosenbaum. "Womens Health, Effects of Exercise
on." Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine. Ed. Lyle J. Micheli. Vol. 4. Thousand
Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference, 2011. 1547-550.Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web. 9 Mar. 2016.