Changes in the body begin after the age of 40. Long-standing habits accumulate, signaling health issues. According to a survey by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 1 in 10 adults in our country has hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, which are the starting points for heart and cerebrovascular diseases. Just like iron rusts, the blood vessels of those in their 40s to 60s are gradually deteriorating. Let's learn more about vascular health.
20% of Adults Have Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hypercholesterolemia with 2 or More Conditions... Middle-Aged Bodies Are Deteriorating
According to a report released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 8th, 1 in 5 adults in the country suffers from 2 or more chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. The prevalence of 2 or more chronic diseases has doubled over the past 12 years. 1 in 10 adults had all 3 chronic diseases. By age group, it was 2.0% for those in their 20s to 30s, 17.3% for those in their 40s to 50s, and 40.8% for those over 60. There was a significant increase starting from the 40s. This is based on an analysis of the prevalence of complex chronic diseases among 70,826 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Survey data.
Such Eating Habits Have Lasted Long... The Inside of Blood Vessels Has Changed
The increase in high blood sugar, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia is attributed to long-standing poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Overeating high-carbohydrate and high-fat foods and disliking physical activity can lead to these diseases. A diet that does not include fiber-rich vegetables, whole grains, and seaweeds is also a risk factor. Although salt intake is decreasing, many people still consume salty foods. This is because our diet includes many salted foods. This is the most significant factor in the occurrence of hypertension. A diet focused on white rice rather than mixed grain rice and the habit of grilling meat also have an impact.
Eating According to Cravings... Gained Weight and Blood and Vessels Changed
Frequent overeating (excess energy intake) leads to the body storing unused energy as fat, resulting in obesity and being overweight. When weight increases, changes in blood occur, such as increased triglycerides, increased LDL cholesterol, and decreased HDL cholesterol, leading to hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia. If an overweight or obese person loses more than 5% of their body weight, their lipid levels in the blood can improve. Therefore, to prevent and treat blood and vascular diseases, it is essential to avoid excessive energy intake while maintaining an appropriate weight. Reducing daily meals by about 500 kcal can lead to a weight loss of approximately 0.5 kg per week.
In Addition to Greasy Foods, Rice, Noodles, and Bread Should Be Eaten Moderately... Why Do High Blood Sugar and Hypercholesterolemia Occur Together?
If cholesterol is high (hypercholesterolemia) or triglycerides are high (hypertriglyceridemia), it can develop into hyperlipidemia (dyslipidemia), increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as angina and myocardial infarction. Hypertriglyceridemia often occurs when consuming excessive alcohol or carbohydrates. The risk increases with diabetes and abdominal obesity. To maintain vascular health, it is necessary to limit alcohol and exercise. Due to similar eating habits, hypercholesterolemia often occurs alongside pre-diabetes and diabetes. To escape from high blood sugar, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension, it is essential to reduce the intake of not only greasy foods (high fat) but also carbohydrates (rice, noodles, bread, potatoes, etc.) and salty foods.
