We all have our dirty little secrets which we hide from the world as well as the responsible part of ourselves. Whether it is the cheeky smoke you have on the fire escape of your office building after your boss threw a raging tantrum or the whiskey you drink as a nightcap after your children have gone to sleep with the justification that ‘you deserve it’ or the drive-through burger you grab on the way home because you feel a little peckish. All these may seem like harmless sins but they actually have far more serious and long-lasting effects on your health than you initially assumed.
Battle of the Booze
With increased alcohol consumption comes increased pressure on your liver and your glucose levels especially if you are a diabetic.
Your liver is responsible for;
- Filtering toxins from the blood
- Aiding digestion of food
- Regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels
- Helping fight infections and diseases
Every time you indulge in consuming alcohol and your liver filters it, some liver cells die. While your liver can regenerate its cells, prolonged alcohol consumption reduces the ability to regenerate new cells in time. Hence, continuous consumption of alcohol, over a period of time, causes permanent damage to your liver.
The following are some Alcohol-Related Liver Diseases (ARLD),
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Alcohol causes the build-up of fat in your liver. Large amounts of alcohol intake, even for just a few days, can lead to a build-up of fats in the liver.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
This disease can be caused by “binge drinking”, which means consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Despite the common assumption, this is in fact not related to infectious hepatitis.
Cirrhosis
This stage of ARLD is where the liver becomes scarred..
Some of the complications that arise with ARLD are
- Internal (variceal) bleeding
- The buildup of toxins in the brain (encephalopathy)
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) with associated kidney failure
- Liver cancer
Do you think you can control your drinking enough to win the battle of the booze?
The Smoking Struggles
While to many, the signature ‘click’ of the lighter combined with the first puff of the devil’s lettuce (Tobacco) provides comfort and an instant de-stress, it can however wreak havoc on your body.
Fun fact
The company Zippo actually trademarked the click sound the lighter makes when you light it.
Tobacco contains 60 known carcinogenic compounds in addition to many more harmful substances. Yes these are included in the ‘all-natural organic’ cigarettes as well)
The following are some of the repercussions of letting the devil’s lettuce smoke your internal organs.
- Lung cancer, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
- Cancers in the mouth, throat (pharynx), oesophagus, larynx
- Heart and circulatory issues; smoking increases your risk of meeting your maker as it increases your risk of heart attacks and can worsen your condition if you suffer from heart disease.
- Diabetes; smoking increases your insulin resistance which is detrimental to your health especially your kidneys and eyes if you are a type 2 diabetic.
- Increased risk of impotence in men and infertility in women.
- You will see the world less clearly not only because of the cloud of smoke blowing across your face but also because it can cause Macular degeneration which is an eye disease that causes you to have blurred vision.
For those who think that ‘it is my body so I can smoke if I want to’ would be interested to know that according to the Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nicotine-dependence/symptoms-causes/syc-20351584#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20smoking%20causes%20lung,and%20some%20types%20of%20leukemia. ) children, spouses and family members of smokers also have an increased risk of developing health complications due to their passive intake of carcinogens found in tobacco. Remember to always be mindful of those around you when smoking as your choice to turn your body into a chimney has an impact on those around you.
Battle of the Burgers
Most people give into the temptation of craving fast food whether it be burgers and fries or the isso wade you buy on the side of the road. These easily accessible oily, salty or sweet treats are high in calories but low in nutrients. This means your body while it does get the energy, it is not a sustainable source.
A few health implications can be expected from regular consumption.
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324847#short-term-impacts)
The immediate impacts of consuming fast food are,
- Spike in blood sugar
- The rapid increase in blood pressure
- Increased inflammation throughout the body
- Can provoke binge eating
The long-term effects are as follows,
- It can cause inflammation and affect your immunity due to the lack of nutrients in fast food.
- Research has shown that fast food can have an effect on conditions like depression and anxiety
- Increased risk of heart disease due to the prevalence of ‘bad fats’. Or high-density lipoproteins which is the type of fat that causes blockages in arteries while the high sodium content increases your blood pressure.
- Increased chance of being obese or overweight
We All Have Them…
Bad habits are universal, we all have them. If you are finding it difficult to give up on bad habits like smoking or drinking it would be ideal to speak to a psychologist who can give you tips on how to put a stop to your bad habit. If you are finding it hard to win the battle against your cravings for fast food it would be ideal to consult a dietitian who can help you develop a meal plan that can help you feel fully satiated.
If you would like to inquire more about these services Text ‘Hi’ to our chatbot https://wa.me/94112140000?text=Hi or call 076 667 2606 to help you set up an appointment with a preferred specialist.
