Which weighs more in preventing heart illnesses, healthy diet or exercise? Part 2

Adhering to a healthy diet and exercise are both equally important in preventing heart illnesses. In my previous post where I was talking about conditions and diseases secondary to unhealthy eating habits, this post will aim to at least explain the pathophysiology of the body as we exercise, plus the benefits it can produce if we do exercise religiously.

On recap, healthy eating habits is a huge factor in preventing, if not all, some risk factors in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) namely: high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension from high salt intake and obesity. Stroke wasn't mentioned, but more often than not, this episode mostly occurs secondary to atherosclerosis and hypertension, these based from patients' medical history. Not forgetting the fact that hypertension more often than not is secondary to atherosclerosis.

Internal effects of exercise in heart disease

At rest, carbohydrates and fats are utilised to produce energy.

The energy used during moderate exercise is derived from a mixture of fatty acid and glucos

Adhering to a healthy diet and exercise are both equally important in preventing heart illnesses. In my previous post where I was talking about conditions and diseases secondary to unhealthy eating habits, this post will aim to at least explain the pathophysiology of the body as we exercise, plus the benefits it can produce if we do exercise religiously.

On recap, healthy eating habits is a huge factor in preventing, if not all, some risk factors in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) namely: high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension from high salt intake and obesity. Stroke wasn't mentioned, but more often than not, this episode mostly occurs secondary to atherosclerosis and hypertension, these based from patients' medical history. Not forgetting the fact that hypertension more often than not is secondary to atherosclerosis or from high salt intake.

Internal effects of exercise in heart disease

Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are the nutrients that we get from our diet. Equally balanced in our food intake, carbohydrates and fats are what our body require for metabolism, proteins for growth and other cellular functions. At rest, carbohydrates and fats are utilised to produce energy, more so with moderate to severe exercises where body endurance is the target. As we exercise, hopefully, ideally, they are utilised preventing extra or extreme "storage" that can increase body weights, leading to obesity or worse, conditions that predispose individuals to having risk factors to heart disease. 

During exercise, muscle contractions cause arterial and venous dilatation, increasing blood supply, carrying more oxygen and glucose. As blood flow is increased, this decreases the resistance in the arterial walls in the systemic circulation. In this regard, decrease resistance lowers or maintains a normal blood pressure in the body, preventing high blood pressure. As there is a normal level of arterial activity, conditions within the arterial wall can lead to a healthier state, delaying or preventing Atherosclerosis and Stroke.

Disclaimer: image from clipart best.com

Preventing risk factors for heart disease

As my experience is cardiac, listing these things don't make me an expert, but rather it's what we teach when giving cardiac rehabilitation to patients after their heart attack. It is not enough that we start them on standard medications in preventing another heart attack, but more importantly are the preventive health teachings that we do about their risk factors.

So, which weighs more in preventing heart illnesses, is it our diet or exercise? Aren't they equal in their importance? Is sticking to one enough? Or a bit of moderation in both? 

Studies have reported their preventive effects in Coronary Heart Disease.

Prevention is better than cure.

Food for thought: Can a healthy young male with normal eating habits, a gym-goer with no history of having any risk factors for heart disease still can suffer from a heart attack?

Part 1: https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@immarojas/which-weighs-more-in-preventing-heart-illnesses-healthy-diet-or-exercise-part-1

References:

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/88484-overview

http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2011/mar/how-the-body-uses-carbohydrates-proteins-and-fats.html