Lifestyle Choices and Health: Effects of Overeating, Red Meat, Exercise, and Substance Abuse

This article discusses the effects of overeating, red meat, exercise, and substance abuse on health. It covers the advantages and disadvantages of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and cocaine. Overeating can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. Red meat consumption can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other illnesses. Exercise has numerous benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving mental health. Substance abuse can cause addiction, organ damage, and other health issues.

Lifestyle Choices and Health
Table of Contents
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
(a).................................................................................................................................................3
(b).................................................................................................................................................4
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................5
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................7
(a).................................................................................................................................................7
(b).................................................................................................................................................8
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
(1).................................................................................................................................................9
(2)...............................................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................15
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Task 1
(a)
An individual who regularly indulges in eating more than they should, have to face a number of
negative effect on them. Overeating is not a simple issue, and is varied from individual to
individual.
Consequences Effects on body
Diabetes Individuals who indulge in overeating have to face the consequences of
obesity and being overweight. Obesity is something which poses a number
health risks and problems. Some of the common issues which relate to
obesity include cancer and type II diabetes. Even though there is a lack of
direct link between obesity and diabetes, research has shown that 85%
individuals who suffer from diabetes are overweight. Diabetes is caused
due to raise level of sugars in blood; and for some reasons, the body cannot
absorb the sugars in a normal manner. As a result of this, the individual
faces risks of blindness, kidney disease, stroke, coronary heart disease, and
amputation owing to poor circulation (Futures of Palm Beach, 2017).
Obesity Other ill effects caused due to over eating include fatty liver disease, gall
bladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, stroke, high blood pressure,
coronary heart disease, poly cystic ovarian syndrome, and metabolic
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syndrome (Futures of Palm Beach, 2017).
Overeating resulting in obesity can also result in the person losing their
confidence and worrying about their social image.
A serious damage is also caused to the digestive systems and the
individuals become prone to high cholesterol, organ failure, acidity levels
being high, and developing bad odour and bad mouth (Ladock, 2017).
Emotional and
Mental
Overeating not only has negative physical heath affects, but also results in
a lot of stress at emotional and mental levels. There are consequences like
emotional mood swings which include disappointment, distress, betrayal,
sadness and anger (Ladock, 2017).
Electrolyte
Imbalance
Owing to the electrolyte imbalance, along with the other metabolic
malfunctioning, the individual feels frustrated, bored, restless and lonely
(Ladock, 2017).
(b)
The individuals who are overweight have high risks of coronary heart disease, strokes, high
blood pressure, some cancers, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type two diabetes, and fertility
problems (Stanford Health Care, 2017). Apart from this, an obese person reduces their life
expectancy by a period of up to nine years, along with attracting a number of chronic diseases
which can be prevented by maintaining healthy weight. As a result of being overweight, an extra
pressure is put on the limbs and joints which make movement very difficult due to the same
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being painful. Overweight women who become pregnant face a very high risk of pregnancy in
comparison to the women with healthy weight. In children, it could result in early onset of
various diseases stated earlier, particularly type 2 Diabetes (More Life, 2017). Even though the
symptoms of it may not become apparent until later in life, the children are damaged from being
overweight in childhood, in terms of reduced stamina. Obesity is a menace which leads to one
disease, which leads to another, wreaking a physical havoc on the body of the obese person.
Task 2
Red meat is a food product which is savoured by the majority but the overconsumption of red
meat has a lot of negative effects, which should make any regular consumer of red meat think
twice about indulging in it again.
 As a result of eating meat, the blood vessels are hardened. This is due to the compound
found in red meat known as carnitine, which has been found to result in atherosclerosis,
which is the clogging or hardening of arteries. Increased levels of carnitine have been
linked to increased risks of cardiovascular diseases.
 As per the study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, association with
consumption of red meat results in increased risks of shortened lifespan. The ones who
indulged in healthier proteins like nuts, legumes, poultry and fish were at a lower risk of
mortality.
 The pink slime, which is the lean finely textured beef, is addictive. This meat contains
fatty bits of the leftover meat which is heated, followed by being spun to remove the fat
and is lastly treated with ammonia has for killing bacteria. This allows pathogens in the
food supply.
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 The process whereby smaller cuts of meat are glued together, i.e., transglutaminase,
through the use of enzyme harvested from animal blood is another risk factor. This is due
to the high risk of contamination in the struck together meat pieces.
 A major threat posed from consumption of red meat is getting sick from E. coli,
particularly in the meat glue risk works. E. Coli results in ailments like kidney failure,
dehydration and abdominal cramps.
 As per the report which was published by the JAMA Internal Medicine, as a result of
eating red meat on regular basis, the risk of getting type 2 Diabetes is increased. 3.5
ounces of red meat eaten on daily basis results in 19% increase in the risk of diabetes.
This is in addition to the increased risk incidence of obesity.
 Red meat has a lot of iron, the regular consumption of which can raise the level of iron in
brain, resulting in raised risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease as per the study conducted
by UCLA. Due to the accumulation of iron in the brain, myelin is destroyed, which is a
fatty issue coating the nerve fibres.
 Eating red meat also results in increased risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with
genetic predisposition. The gene plays a crucial role in immune system and affects one in
three people. Thus, a person with this gene could trigger inflammatory or immune
response from eating red meat.
 Red meat also boosts breast cancer risk as per the study conducted in Archives of Internal
Medicine of more than 90,000 women. Women who ate more than six ounces of red meat
daily nearly had double risks of getting hormone sensitive breast cancer in comparison to
women who had 12 ounces or less in a week. Compounds in red meat also increase risk
of cancer by being attached to particular hormone receptors on tumours (Melone, 2014).
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Task 3
(a)
The best manner of dealing with the modern day health issues is by exercising in a regular
manner. In order to maintain the fitness levels, there is a need for the individuals to indulge in
modern exercise as it benefits the health of the individuals. These benefits can be felt both inside
and out. This is because by moderately exercising, the risks of osteoporosis and cardiovascular
diseases are reduced, along with alleviating anxiety and depression and also helps in boosting
mental alertness. This can be proved through the 2010 review where forty studies were looked at
and it was established in these that through regular physical activities, the people are not only
keep within a healthy weight range, but are also able to cut the risks of developing dozens of
physical and mental health issue. The East Anglia review revealed that by exercising, the risks of
some cancers are reduced, along with risks of dementia, Type 2 diabetes, sexual problems, high
blood pressure, stroke and depression. Physical activity also enables social interactions, like
walking to a park, joining sport teams, or joining tennis club, which are not only a good way to
pass time but also make friends while getting some exercise. This is particularly helpful for such
individuals who develop social aversion owing to them being overweight or obese.
Through moderate exercise, an individual can reduce the risk of heart disease, as physical
activities strengthen heart and help in blood pumping and delivering oxygen to body. Regular
physical activities boost HDL, i.e., high density lipoprotein, and also bring down unhealthy
triglycerides (Jorgustin, 2017). Moderate exercise also prevents illness which includes colon
cancer, injury and the other diseases presented in the first part of this discussion (Victoria State
Government, 2012). It also helps in improving mood, which helps in relieving stress, and thus
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Lifestyle Choices and Health
giving away with depression and anxiety (NHS, 2017). The stress hormones are reduced and
endorphins’ released, which is the feel good natural chemical of the body. Physical activity also
makes a person stronger, by indulging in weight training or resistance training, which improves
upon bone density, joint function and strength in ligaments, muscles and tendons.
Moderate exercise also aids weight loss, as calories are burnt through exercising. Combining
exercise with diet control can result in tremendous results for the obese individuals. As per the
research conducted by the US National Cancer Institute and the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, moderate exercise allows a person to a considerably longer life. The study
conducted over a period of ten years, for over 650,000 individuals established that by indulging
in 150 minutes of brisk walking for each week, a person could gain an additional 3.4 years of
life. Moderate exercise also helps in boosting memory, improving up the sex life, and sleeping
easier. Owing to continuous exercise, blood flow to genital regions is boosted, and the problem
of insomnia is also treated (12 WBT, 2017).
(b)
Weight training is a great way of getting the entire body in shape. However, there are a number
of demerits of indulging in weight training. The main one in this regard relates to the safety of a
person, and weight training should never be undertaken alone. Using barbell is a cause f great
safety concerns and there is high possibility of an individual becoming trapped under it, in case
the person is not able to repeat the action due to weight of barbell. Damage is also caused to the
body of the person indulging in weight training. Where the person is not able to control their
body, then there is high risk of a person pulling a muscle in their body. Particularly when an
individual is not ready, they can injure body part. The muscles could also stress out due to high
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Lifestyle Choices and Health
weight, particularly when a lot of weight is taken without practice (Eaton, 2006). A lot of stress
is placed on knees and ankles, along with possibility of shoulder dislocation or wrist injury.
There is also the issue of muscle soreness along with stress fractures, which are the tiny cracks in
bone caused due to overuse and repetitive force (Stephenson, 2017).
Exercise: Weight Training
Benefits Hazard
 Helps in controlling weight
 Develops strong bones
 Reduces risk of injury
 Boosts stamina
 Sharpens focus
 Fights chronic conditions
 Improves quality of life, confidence,
stress levels, posture and balance
 Better sleep
 Stress fractures
 Muscle soreness (Stephenson, 2017)
 Risk of injury from improper manner of
lifting weights, including severe and
moderate injuries, like accidents, ankle
twist, shoulder dislocation
 Bulky body
 Damage and threat to body
 Muscle pain
 Reverse Anorexia (Weinblatt, 2017).
Task 4
(1)
 Alcohol
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Lifestyle Choices and Health
Advantages Disadvantages
 When taken in small quantities, it
improves appetite, which helps in
gaining weight.
 Can also lower risk of kidney stones
 Increases good cholesterol
 Raises high-density lipoprotein (FIIB,
2017).
 Alcohol dependency resulting in
exposure to accidents
 Liver damage
 Dysfunctional organs
 Sedation and death
 Nerve damage (Study Read, 2017).
 Nicotine
Advantages Disadvantages
 Protection against Alzheimer’s
 Prevention of Parkinson’s disease
 Treats Ulcerative colitis
 Enhances memory
 Controls ADHD
 Delays onset of Arthritis (E Cigarette
Direct, 2017).
 Nicotine poisoning
 Addiction
 Untimely death
 Neurological effects
 Gastrointestinal disorders (Mishra et al
2015).
 Marijuana
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Lifestyle Choices and Health
Advantages Disadvantages
 Controls epileptic seizures
 Treats inflammatory bowel diseases
 Slows progression of Alzheimer’s
disease
 Stops cancer from spreading (Welsh,
2014).
 Blocks memory formation
 Tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical
present in marijuana, messes with
balance
 Increased risk of depression
 Fear, distrust, anxiety, panic
 Experience of psychosis (Welsh, 2014).
 Cocaine
Advantages Disadvantages
 Helps in healing wounds
 Helps in losing weight
 Produces topical anaesthesia for
surgical procedures (Self Hacked,
2017).
 Heart complications
 Respiratory complications
 Negative impact on sleep
 Psychological and mood disorders
 Damages cognitive functioning (Self
Hacked, 2017).
 Anabolic steroids
Advantages Disadvantages
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Lifestyle Choices and Health
 Enhanced body growth
 Stamina and physical strength is
increased
 More confidence and positivity
 Recovery rate from injury is increased
(Khan, 2017).
 Kidney and liver risk
 Cancer chances
 High risk of getting HIV, Hepatitis B
and Hepatitis C from infected needles
 For women: Baldness, hair growth on
face, unpredicted menstrual cycle,
manly voice and clitoris enlargement
(Khan, 2017).
(2)
Alcohol and alcoholic drinks are a common parlance at the dinner tables and in business
meetings. In comparison to other drugs like nicotine, marijuana, cocaine and anabolic steroids, it
is used most commonly and even is accepted, instead of being looked down upon. There are
some benefits of alcohol, but there is more health risks associated with its both short and short
term consumption.
Before getting into the ill-effects of alcohol consumption, there is a need to acknowledge the
benefits of moderate levels of alcohol usage. Alcohol helps in reducing the risk of getting and
dying due to heart disease. It also helps in reducing the risk of ischemic strokes, in which the
brain arteries become blocked or narrow, resulting in severe reduction in blood flow. There is
also a possibility of reducing the risk of diabetes from use of alcohol, which makes its
consumption, not a bad thing (Mayo Clinic, 2016).
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The short term effect of consuming alcohol includes decreased levels of anxiety, decreased
motor skills owing to the person looming in unconsciousness, at higher doses causes central
nervous system depression, and anterograde amnesia. The cell membranes are quite highly
permeable towards alcohol, which means that once alcohol enters the bloodstream of a person, it
can diffuse nearly in every cell of the individual’s body. The amount of alcohol consumption,
along with the situations revolving around it, determines the extent of intoxication. For instance,
where alcohol is consumed after consuming heavy meal, alcohol is absorbed slowly. The extent
of hangovers is determined by hydration levels. Due to drinking excessively, the
unconsciousness caused results in alcohol poising and even deaths due to concentration of
alcohol in blood stream. It also causes deaths due to vomiting caused from it, resulting in
asphyxiation. It also exacerbates sleep issues (Jennison, 2004).
The long term effects of alcohol consumption are quite wide ranging which includes cardio-
protective health benefits for low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption in the industrialized
societies, where there is a high rate of cardiovascular disease, which is detrimental particularly in
cases of chronic alcoholic abuse. The developing adolescent brain is vulnerable to the toxic
effects of alcohol. There is a high risk of chronic pancreatitis, alcoholism, cancer, malnutrition
and alcoholic liver disease. Apart from this, severe damage is caused to the central nervous
system, along with the occurrence of peripheral nervous system taking place from chronic
alcohol abuse (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2000).
Alcohol is also discouraged in a strong manner in pregnant women due to its ill-effects (Penn
Medicine, 2016). The alcohol consumed by mother can pass in the bloodstream of the foetus
through placenta, which interferes with the organ and the brain development of the child. It
affects the foetus based on the amount and the frequency at which the alcohol is consumed.
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Alcohol consumption can also affect the sexual and reproductive health of the individuals. Men
experience erectile dysfunction dye to heavy drinking, which also prevents the production of sex
hormone, along with lowering the libido. In women, it can result in stopped menstruation and
also puts them at a high risk of infertility. Women, who drink while they are pregnant, have a
high risk of premature delivery, stillbirth and miscarriages. A serious concern in this regard is
Fetal alcohol syndrome disorders. Other issues include learning difficulties, increased emotional
issues, physical development abnormalities, and long term health issues (Pietrangelo and
Holland, 2017).
The long term effect of alcoholic consumption is the prevention of body from keeping the bones
strong. This is due to the thinning of bones, which increases the risks of fractures being caused,
and the fractures also take time in healing. Alcoholic consumption results in cramping, muscle
weakness and atrophy. The natural immune system of the individual is reduced heavily. This
means that the body loses its capacity to fight off viruses and germs. People drinking for long
period see high chances of developing tuberculosis and pneumonia. Again, there are the issues of
heart attack, heart failure, stroke, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in pumping blood
through body, and high blood pressure (Pietrangelo and Holland, 2017).
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