Lifestyle Diseases

• Cardiovascular Disease

  all diseases of the heart & blood circulation, main cause of death in the western world
• Types of Cardiovascular Disease

  • atherosclerosis
  • coronary heart disease (CHD)
  • heart attack
  • stroke
• Atherosclerosis

  • fatty plaque development in the arterial walls progressively narrowing the lumen & hardening the walls
  • reduces space for blood flow & increases likelihood of blood clots forming
  • arterial walls become thick & hardened, reducing the ability to vasodilate & constrict to regulate blood pressure
  • chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) can develop overtime
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

  • results from atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
  • reduction in blood flow & oxygen supply limits the cardiac muscles ability to respire & an angina or heart attack may occur
  • likelihood of blood clots are increased
• Heart Attack

  • blockage in the coronary artery cutting off oxygenated blood flow to an area of cardiac muscle
  • results in it cutting off the oxygen supply to areas of cardiac muscle, causing the death of cells & permanent damage
• Stroke

  • a blockage in the cerebral artery cutting off the blood supply to the brain or through a blood vessel bursting on the brain
• Effects of Training on Cardiovascular Disease

  • leading an inactive, sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for CHD, almost doubling the risk of a fatal heart attack
  • exercise can reduce the risk of developing some form of cardiovascular disease by approx 30%

  Regular Training can:

  • decrease blood viscosity & the resistance to blood flow
  • increase blood flow & oxygen transportation to muscle cells
  • decrease body fat & help to manage weight
• Respiratory Disease

  characterised by one or several diseases of the airways or alveoli, causes breathing difficulties & can severely reduce a persons quality of life
• Types of Respiratory Disease

  • asthma
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Asthma

  • constriction of the bronchial airways & inflammation of the mucous membranes, which restricts the airways & limits breathing
  • symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing & coughing caused by an irritant
  • can also be exercise induced when the air is cold & dry, & is relieved via an inhaler
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

  • where the airways become inflamed & narrow
  • overtime the inflammation leads to thickening of the bronchiole walls, increased mucus production, damage to the alveoli & decreased lung tissue capacity
  • includes sever asthma, chronic bronchitis & emphysema
  • can lead to an inability to exercise & reduced quality of life
• Effect of Training on Respiratory Disease

  • sedentary lifestyle will limit the use of the lower lobes of the lung tissue, increasing the risk of infection
  • smoking is the biggest risk factor of developing respiratory disease

  Regular Training can:

  • increase respiratory muscle strength, decreasing respiratory effort
  • maintain full use of lung tissue & elasticity
  • increase the surface area of alveoli & pulmonary capillaries