This paper covers three main parts. First, it clearly explains the impacts of high blood glucose on the heart and the complications it causes. The paper highlights several problems associated with high blood glucose, such as diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, chronic inflammations, and insulin resistance showing how they lead to heart diseases. It also covers regular blood checks, highlighting the importance of promoting it and its impact on reducing heart problems among individuals. It is a proper mechanism to curb deaths caused by heart complications from high blood glucose levels. Finally, the paper tackles the importance of the above information on different individuals and environments. It shows how this information is significant to patients, medical professionals, business operations, medical facilities, and the societies in which we live. The paper highlights practical activities and measures to reduce mortality rates resulting from heart problems.
Sugar indeed plays significant in heart disease and glucose monitoring promotion. Excessive consumption of Sugar especially added Sugar is a health hazard since it increases the chances of developing heart problems and thus impacts the importance of regular glucose checks on individuals. Added Sugar is readily available in sugary drinks, beverages, baked foods, candy, and sweetened dairy products. It has numerous names in these products such as syrup, palm sugar, agave nectar, or sucrose, increasing confusion and the chances of consuming it.
Sugar is harmful to the body, and it leads to several heart problems such as it leads to high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes which further increases the chances of developing heart disease and stroke, increases the risk of obesity which in turn leads to heart problems, and lastly, lowers the high-density lipoprotein while increasing the levels of low-density lipoproteins which are harmful to the heart.
First, excessive consumption of added Sugar leads to high blood pressure. It happens in two major ways, the deposition of fats in the arteries and fatty liver disorder. The liver breaks down Sugar into fats which are useful to the body. However, excess fat is harmful, and it is deposited in the arteries, thus decreasing the diameter of the arterial lumen. (Paglia, 2019). As a result, the heart increases the pressure with which it pumps blood in the body, leading to an increase in blood pressure.
On the other hand, excess sugar consumption may increase the risk of developing fatty, which are risk factors in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of developing heart complications. Excessive sugars also lead to dehydration and excessive water consumption, increasing blood volume and high blood pressure.
Excessive consumption of Sugar increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, leading to heart disease. First, it leads to the development of fatty liver, a condition that leads to diabetes in individuals (Paglia, 2019). It also leads to insulin resistance and accumulation of sodium in the body, which also leads to the development of diabetes. The pancreas produces insulin hormone to help regulate blood sugar levels. When the body becomes resistant to it, the pancreas produces large amounts of it due to rising blood glucose levels. Excess insulin production increases sodium retention in the kidneys, resulting in diabetes and the subsequent development of heart complications.
It also increases the risk of developing obesity, a risk factor for developing heart disease. Excessive consumption of added sugars leads to obesity in several ways. It increases calorie intake, leading to an increase in weight. It also increases fat storage since Sugar is stored in the form of fats, leading to weight gain over time (O’Keefe, 2022). These foods also lead to an increase in appetite, hunger, and cravings leading to excessive eating, which in turn may lead to an increase in body weight and hence obesity. It also disrupts the hormonal balance in the body, such as insulin and leptin hormones which regulate blood sugars, appetite, and metabolism, respectively. Disruption of these hormones may lead to excessive weight gain and hence obesity. Lastly, insulin resistance to leads to obesity. Obesity increases the risk of developing heart problems and complications which may lead to death.
It also leads to chronic inflammation. Excessive production of insulin leads to inflammation of the arteries. The arterial walls become thicker and stiffer, resulting in stress on the heart and eventually damaging it. It also leads to the production of advanced glycation end products. These molecules form through the combination of Sugar and proteins or fats in the body (Vos et al., 2017). They trigger the immune system to produce a response leading to chronic inflammations that damage the heart, leading to heart problems.
Importance of the information to regular blood sugar checks
The above information has a significant effect in promoting regular blood glucose checks. The checks are aimed at monitoring blood sugar levels and maintaining the at normal levels either through observing healthy diets, exercising, or having regular insulin injections to lower the levels (Chehregosha et al., 2019). Regular glucose checks are important to the heart in several ways, such as managing diabetes, preventing high blood glucose complications, identifying pre-diabetes, and helping interpret the effects of foods and physical activities such as exercise on blood sugar levels.
They help in managing diabetes which is a risk factor for heart problems. Individuals can adjust their diet, medication, and exercise schedules, keeping their glucose levels within the recommended range and minimizing the chances of developing heart problems. It also helps in preventing the complications associated with high blood glucose, such as chronic inflammation, fatty liver, obesity, and insulin resistance hence reducing the chances of developing heart problems (Chehregosha et al., 2019). It allows for timely interventions to these complications preventing further problems. It also helps in identifying pre-diabetes, a condition that leads to diabetes. Correcting the problem before it escalates is essential in preventing heart disease. Lastly, it helps interpret the effects of foods and physical exercise on blood sugar levels through the advice given by physicians.
The importance of the information to different groups
Patients
Patients need to understand the effects of excessive added sugar consumption on the body and, most importantly, the heart. It is also important for them to understand the benefits of undertaking regular blood glucose checks. First, it helps them manage the occurrence of diabetes in their lives. Blood glucose checks help them to monitor their blood glucose levels and hence control them in cases when they are higher than normal hence reducing the chances of developing diabetes and also heart problems.
It also helps them in minimizing the chances of occurrence of other complications related to high blood glucose levels, such as chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, obesity, and fatty liver, which have a significant impact on heart diseases (Qin et al., 2023). It minimizes the number of deaths caused by heart disorders among them. It also helps them develop healthy lifestyles, such as regular exercise and healthy diets, minimizing the chances of developing complications. It also in reducing medical costs to the patients.
Facility and medical professionals
This information is also important to the facilities of healthcare provision through several ways; regular checkups help in the early detection of risk factors for heart diseases such as diabetes and obesity. It is crucial in preventing complications and hence improving service provision. It also enhances better patient outcomes (Chehregosha et al., 2019). Medical professionals can adjust treatment plans and medication dosages to manage the risks better, leading to better blood glucose control, reduced complications, and improved quality of life. It also frees up hospital space since fewer hospitalizations and emergency cases are reported. Lastly, it improves patient satisfaction in hospitals.
Business operations
Business operators need to know this information since it helps them to work on the symptoms, thus making them more productive. Knowing their blood glucose levels can help them manage their conditions, adjust their medication or diet, and prevent serious complications that can lead to heart problems (Chehregosha et al., 2019). The information can help them manage their glucose levels effectively all day, allowing them to do physical work effectively. They can also manage their medications, such as insulin injections and kits, at their workplaces. It makes them more productive.
Society
The information also has a significant impact on our societies. First, it is a source of education in our societies. We learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in preventing heart disease. It also impacts our decision-making by deciding what foods to eat and activities to undertake, such as physical exercises to reduce heart problems (Chehregosha et al., 2019). It also inspires social change in our societies, such as fostering a culture of regular blood glucose checks that were not previously observed. Lastly, it decreases mortality rates due to heart complications in our societies.
Sugar consumption is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease that requires attention and action from individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Regular glucose monitoring could help individuals to manage their sugar intake and reduce their risk of heart disease, but it requires education, motivation, and access to testing tools. A campaign that addresses the barriers and facilitators identified in this study could improve the uptake and effectiveness of glucose monitoring as a preventive strategy.
References
Chehregosha, H., Khamseh, M. E., Malek, M., Hosseinpanah, F., & Ismail-Beigi, F. (2019). A view beyond HbA1c: role of continuous glucose monitoring. Diabetes Therapy, 10, 853-863.
O’Keefe, J. H. (2022). Added Sugars Drive Insulin Resistance, Hyperinsulinemia, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, and Coronary Heart Disease. Missouri Medicine, 119(6), 519–523. https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2017-000729
Paglia, L. (2019). The sweet danger of added sugars. Eur. J. Pediatric. Dent, pp. 20, 89.
Qin, P., Huang, C., Jiang, B., Wang, X., Yang, Y., Ma, J. … & Bo, Y. (2023). Dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality and risk of cardiovascular disease, all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition, 42(2), 148-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2022.12.010
Vos, M. B., Kaar, J. L., Welsh, J. A., Van Horn, L. V., Feig, D. I., Anderson, C. A., … & Johnson, R. K. (2017). Added sugars and cardiovascular disease risk in children: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 135(19), e1017-e1034. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000439
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