Matthew Wheat
11-29-2017
The Dangers of Hypokinetic Disease
What is a hypokinetic disease? The word “hypo”, the opposite of hyper, means less, and the word “kinetic” means movement. So combining these words to form the word hypokinetic means less movement. In other words, a hypokinetic disease is any disease caused by a sedentary lifestyle, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Examples of hypokinetic diseases include but are not limited to: obesity, type two diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and even most forms of cancer. Neurosurgeon and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dr. Brent Osborn writes in his book, Get Serious, most illnesses that we face today can be prevented through living a healthier lifestyle. Although some hypokinetic diseases are not as dangerous as others, they are the most common diseases found in today’s population (Osborn, Brett 2).
It is very well-known that exercise can promote overall health and longevity, yet a very large portion of the United States lives a sedentary lifestyle. Some people may not realize how much of a difference diet and exercise can make when it comes to disease prevention. For example, avoiding tobacco is a great way to reduce the risk of cancer, but following other guidelines can also help. Guidelines for cancer prevention have a lot of similarities with guidelines to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention writes in their article: Following Cancer Prevention Guidelines Reduces the Risk of Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and All Cause Mortality “A diet low in red processed meat, with a greater proportion of whole grains versus refined grains, and high in a variety of vegetables and fruits, was independently associated with lower mortality from all-cause, cancer, and CVD mortality than participants with less optimal diet patterns” (McCullough, Marjorie L et. al. 1057). In a study conducted by the American Cancer Society, men and women who followed the cancer prevention guidelines the closest had a forty-two percent lower risk of death by any cause, than those who were less consistent with the guidelines. Maintaining a healthy BMI (body mass index) seemed to be the highest valued variable in the decrease of mortality rate. There is a lot of evidence that suggests that excessive body fat is related to death from cancer and cardiovascular disease. Yet, sixty-eight percent of Americans are overweight or obese (McCullough, Marjorie L. et al. 1057). There is a clear disconnect between the way Americans should be living, and the sedentary lifestyle many have adopted.
Type two diabetes is another growing issue in the United States. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in their joint statement, Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes, stated: “in 2007, almost 24 million Americans had diabetes, with one-quarter of those, or six million, undiagnosed. Currently, it is estimated that almost 60 million U.S. residents also have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose (BG) levels are above normal, thus greatly increasing their risk for type 2 diabetes” (Colberg, Sheri R. et al). This means that a lot of Americans already have type two diabetes, and more than double those amount of people are prediabetic. When it comes to the management of type two diabetes, ideally, one should achieve or maintain healthy levels pertaining to blood glucose, lipids, and blood pressure. This could prevent or mitigate symptoms of type two diabetes. It was mentioned in Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes:
Many people with type 2 diabetes can achieve BG control by following a nutritious meal plan and exercise program, losing excess weight, implementing necessary self-care behaviors, and taking oral medications, although others may need supplemental insulin. Diet and PA are central to the management and prevention of type 2 diabetes because they help treat the associated glucose, lipid, BP control abnormalities, as well as aid in weight loss and maintenance (Colberg, Sheri R. et al).
When it comes to an exercise regimen, combining aerobic exercise and resistance training could be more effective at improving blood glucose control than performing these forms of exercise by themselves, but there are more studies that need to be done pertaining to variables like caloric expenditure, time spent exercising, or the type of exercise (Colberg, Sheri R. et al). Beginning any type of exercise regimen would be beneficial for the regulation of diabetes.
Hypertension is a common complication affecting more than six out of ten individuals with type two diabetes. “The risk of vascular complications in hypertensive individuals with type 2 diabetes is 66–100% higher than with either condition alone” (Colberg, Sheri R. et al). There is a lot of evidence out there supporting that both resistance and aerobic training lower blood pressure in diabetic people. The combination of diet, exercise, and behavior modification is the most effective approach to weight loss. Physical activity (PA) alone can help one lose weight, but it makes the process much more challenging. “Recommended levels of PA may help produce weight loss. However, up to 60 min/day may be required when relying on exercise alone for weight loss” (Colberg, Sheri R. et al). This is why people, with or without hypertension and/or diabetes, see their best results when they use a combination of diet and exercise, instead of trying to outwork a bad diet.
A healthier lifestyle can help bring positive physical changes to those who have diabetes and those who are prediabetic, but there are also some mental benefits that come with it as well as the overall quality of life (QOL). “Increased PA and physical fitness can reduce symptoms of depression and improve health-related QOL in those with type 2 diabetes” (Colberg, Sheri R. et al). It is important to know the recommended guidelines for physical activity for those with type two diabetes. It is written in Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes: ”Persons with type 2 diabetes should undertake at least 150 min/week of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise spread out during at least 3 days during the week, with no more than 2 consecutive days between bouts of aerobic activity” (Colberg, Sheri R. et al).
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is very costly to the health care providers in the United States, and is one of the biggest causes for preventable death, yet is one of the more unrecognized diseases. The Committee on Public Health Priorities to Reduce and Control Hypertension in the U.S. Population writes in their book, A Population-Based Policy and Systems Change Approach to Prevent and Control Hypertension:
Despite the magnitude of hypertension-associated morbidity and mortality and the $73 billion in annual costs to the health care system, hypertension prevention and control is only one of a number of programs competing for a total of only $54 million (2009) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) entire Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention portfolio (Fleming, David W. et al 1).
While hypertension alone is dangerous, it is also a gateway into other cardiovascular diseases. The same book writes:“In 2005, high blood pressure was responsible for about one in six deaths of U.S. adults and was the single largest risk factor for cardiovascular mortality accounting for about 45 percent of all cardiovascular deaths” (Fleming, David W. et al 1). Hypertension in adults means that one has a systolic pressure equal to or higher than 140 mm Hg, or a diastolic pressure higher than or equal to 90 mm Hg, which affected roughly 73 million people in 2004 (Flemming, David W. et al 1).
Factors that may affect hypertension are; obesity, sodium intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and potassium intake (Fleming, David W. et al 68). All of these factors besides alcohol consumption, have significantly changed for the worse on average, in the U.S. The rate of obesity has increased from approximately thirteen percent of the population in 1960-1962, to over thirty-three percent in 2003-2006. The average amount of sodium consumed in 1971-1974 was 2200mg per day, in 1999-2000 it was 3500mg per day. Between the years of 1998 to 2006, an estimated thirty to sixty percent of adults in the United States are considered inactive (Fleming, David W. et al 68). According to A Population-Based Policy and Systems Change Approach to Prevent and Control Hypertension, a good way to get potassium into a diet is through fruits and vegetables, and the recommendations for intake of fruits and vegetables are not being met:
“Trends in fruit and vegetable consumption in the U.S. population, however, do not appear to be helping to reach that goal. In fact, trends show that the 1990 Dietary Guideline recommendations of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables every day are not being met”(Fleming, David W. et al 68).
Making slight changes in the current trends of each of these factors can significantly decrease the risk of hypertension.
The history of science relating to exercise, commonly referred to as kinesiology, goes back much further than people may realize. In 1859-1860, the Department of Physical Education and Hygiene was created at Amherst College to promote health in students(Cardinal, Bradley J. 54-59).According to Toward a Greater Understanding of the syndemic nature of hypokinetic diseases, written by Bradley Cardinal, the field of public health is moving in a direction that is more all encompassing when it comes to physical activity. Cardinal writes in this article:
This shifting orientation is due to the rise of hypokinetic diseases, which are the diseases associated with disuse and physical inactivity (i.e., hypo = less, kinetic = movement).Hypokinetic diseases encompass a range of medical conditions that afflict the world's population, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity, to name only a few(Cardinal, Bradley J. 54-59).
It is stated in this article, that these diseases are at least partially prevented by the engagement of physical activity.
Many things in our society today have caused a decrease in physical activity. Transportation is one example. Those that walk or bike to work typically have the smallest chance of having a hypokinetic disease because they are more likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Entertainment is another huge factor in the decrease of physical activity. Spectatoritis is when one watches somebody else perform a physical activity instead of participating in physical activity themselves. Spectatoritis has dated back more than eighty years ago, but even today it is still an issue (Cardinal, Bradley J. 54-59). There are a lot of benefits that come from exercise. These benefits can go further than just physical benefits, or even individual benefits. In this article, Bradley claims that societies benefit from having healthy citizens. “Families function better when they play together. Children are more attentive and have better behavioral regulation and cognitive outcomes in school. Employers also benefit by having a healthier workforce through reduced absenteeism, lower health care costs, and higher employee morale and productivity” (Cardinal, Bradley J. 54-59). In other words, there can be more benefits to exercise than just disease prevention.
Diseases that can be prevented are a growing issue in the United States today. It is important to educate others on the dangers of these diseases. Diabetes, hypertension, cancer are only a few of the diseases that can be treated or prevented by living a more active, healthy lifestyle, there are many more out there. Many doctors would agree that preventative medicine is the most effective form of treatment. A quote found in the article, Toward a Greater Understanding of the Syndemic Nature of Hypokinetic Diseases, is very applicable to today’s healthcare issues. “The importance of exercise and diet was perhaps never more fully acknowledged than by the physicians of the present day. Experience has proved these means to be the best preventive against disease, as well as a powerful auxiliary, if not a substitute for medicines, in many obstinate cases” (Cardinal, Bradley J. 54-59). According to Cardinal, that quote is over 190 years old, and it is still applicable today. If we take responsibility as Americans to reclaim our health, we can move towards an improved quality of life for all.
Works Cited
Colberg, Sheri R. et al. “Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes: The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association: Joint Position Statement.” Diabetes Care 33.12 (2010): e147–e167. PMC. Web. 6 Nov. 2017.
Cardinal, Bradley J. "Toward a Greater Understanding of the Syndemic Nature of Hypokinetic
Committee on Public Health Priorities to Reduce and Control Hypertension in the U.S.
Population A Population-Based Policy and Systems Change Approach to Prevent and Control Hypertension. National Academy of Sciences. 2010 pp. 1, 68
McCullough, Marjorie L et. al. “ Following Cancer Guidelines Reduces Risk of Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and All-Cause Mortality.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, vol. 20, no. 6, June 2011, http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/20/6/1089
Accessed 7 Nov. 2017
Osborn, Brett Get Serious pp 2