unit 3: Conditions linked with overnutrition

• Conditions linked with Over-nutrition


  • Obesity
  • Hypertension
  • Dental decay
• Hypertension


  High blood pressure - the heart pumps blood around the body through the blood vessels with more force than normal
• High sodium intake is not the only cause of hypertension
• Obesity itself can cause high blood pressure
• Stress also increases blood pressure
• As we age, our blood pressure increases, but it has been found that this occurs only when sodium intake is high
• Systolic pressure

  The pressure when the heart pumps the blood, about 120 mm Hg in healthy young adults
• Diastolic pressure

  The pressure when the heart is at rest, in between pumps, about 80 mm Hg in young adults
• Normal blood pressure

  120 over 80
• High blood pressure

  Systolic pressure above 140 mm Hg or diastolic pressure above 90 mm Hg
• Physical effects of hypertension


  • Heart failure
  • Reduced blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Aneurysm, a weakness in the blood vessel walls, which can burst, causing massive internal bleeding
• Economic effects of hypertension


  • Cost of hospital treatment
  • Surgery
  • Medicine
  • Toll on ability to work
  • Absenteeism
• Dental caries


  Tooth decay - the enamel softens and then breaks down, allowing the dentine to decay
• Dental caries occur when carbohydrate is available to the bacteria that occur naturally in the mouth
• The bacteria ferment the carbohydrate, producing acids, which dissolve the tooth enamel
• The bacteria also produce an insoluble polysaccharide called plaque, which forms a film on the teeth, preventing the bacteria and acid from being rinsed away by the saliva
• Physical effects of dental caries


  • Bad breath due to the bacteria
  • Pain of toothache
  • Damaged or lost teeth can affect nutrition - missing or painful teeth make it difficult to chew tough or crunchy foods, leading to a diet low in fruit, vegetables and fibre
• Economic effects of dental caries


  • Dental fillings
  • Crowns
  • Dentures
• Acidic foods such as fruit juices and soft drinks (including diet soft drinks and soda water) can also contribute to dissolving the enamel
• Saliva helps to protect against tooth decay by constantly rinsing your teeth and contains minerals such as calcium that can help replace the dissolved enamel
• Foods that stick to your teeth, acidic foods and frequent snacking can interfere with the protective effects of saliva
• Plaque prevents the saliva from rinsing the teeth and needs to be removed regularly (by brushing and flossing) to prevent decay
• Rinsing your mouth thoroughly after eating and drinking can also help to protect your teeth
• If you need to eat between meals, foods containing calcium (such as milk and cheese) are much better choices than sticky or acidic foods