The 21st Century Lifestyle in G20 countries is Bad for Your Health - Essay Example

?The 21st Century Lifestyle in G20 countries is Bad for Your Health? Western societies and developed societies pride ourselves on our wealthy lifestyle in which we are able to meet our every comfort. We have cars that help us get from place to place; there is plenty of resources and we rarely have to worry about going without a steady supply of food, water, and other natural resources. The internet and technology has revolutionized the way in which we conduct business and learn. With all the seemingly endless opportunities and rewards of living in a developed country, it makes it seem like a utopia out of an existentialist novel. As a result of our increasing dependence on technology and other aspects that have become part of daily life, scientists are seeing the onset of many different chronic disorders which are killing off the populations of the G20 countries faster than their poorer developing country counterparts. First, it is necessary to examine the sociocultural values which have lead to our own de-habilitating illnesses. We live in a fast, paced society in which there is little room to stop for a breather. This has been influenced by the internet and the ability to access information at the speed of light. Many jobs are now conducted straight out of the office and usually involve sitting behind a desk at the computer. Due to declining economic conditions around the world, many jobs are requiring longer hours to work as well as increasing layoffs causing stress in the local population. These increasing hours along with the stress associated with the fear of layoff and daily stresses such as traffic, family dynamics and other interpersonal problems has lead to an enhanced sedentary lifestyles as well as poor dieting and use of alcohol/tobacco which has lead to inherent chronic disorders and diseases. Poor dieting has lead to an increase in obesity across most of the western countries. This can be due to multiple things. First, it is important to recognize that the onset of fast food restaurants has made it easier for the population to have access to high calorie and high fattening foods at a low cost. This is based on the 80/20 principle in human reasoning in that the decision to eat fast food over is influenced by the ease of access and quickness over the fact that it is not nutritionally sound (Gardner, 2006). Another important aspect is that G20 populations have an increased sedentary lifestyle. Due to the stress and fatigue associated with working a job, it is a de-motivational aspect which leads to a lack of physical fitness. It is also seen at the early childhood level as there has been a detrimental increase in childhood obesity. There has been a greater emphasis on academics and children spending more time in the classroom learning which has cut time which has usually been allotted for physical activity (Buckmaster, & Brownell, 1988). This is all a result of our progressive lifestyle which has led to obesity. In order to meet the classification for obesity, a person must meet a BMI, body mass index, of 27 which correlates to 120% of the desirable weight in comparison to height. As a result, this excess weight has added physiological and psychological illnesses. Metabolic associated diseases associated with obesity can be insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hyper tension (Dwyer, 1994). In insulin resistance, insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars. Certain cells in muscles and fat become affected due to the disruption of glucose and insulin. The decrease in the amount of insulin being secreted by the pancreas associated with insulin resistance can lead to type II diabetes. Hyperglycemia occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood (Myers, 2004). This can be caused by a lack of exercise, consuming too many daily calories, etc. There are many debilitating factors associated with hyperglycemia such as kidney, neurological, and cardiovascular conditions. Hyperuricemia is a condition which is associated with an abnormal increase in uric acid. Lastly, hypertension is a cardiovascular condition that affects blood pressure throughout the body. This can lead to prolonged complications as well as possibly lead to an increase in the likelihood of stroke and heart attack (Silverstein, Silverstein, & Nunn, 2006). Associating with poor dieting and obesity is the onset of cardiovascular disease. The important causes associated with cardiovascular disease are an increase in high blood pressure, high cholesterol counts, an inactive lifestyle and alcohol/drug abuse. High blood pressure (hypertension) as previously stated can lead to damage of veins, arteries and other cardiovascular structures. The high cholesterol counts have an extremely important effect on physical health. Cholesterol can stick to the walls of arteries which can cause the arteries to “harden”. As a result, this leads to narrowing of the passages which limits the amount of blood and oxygen which can pass through at a given time. If these passages become completely blocked off, the risk of heart attack increases exponentially (Sherwood, 2010). The inactive lifestyle leads to a decrease in the strength of the cardiopulmonary functions. This with the addition of unhealthy weight gain puts an increased amount of strain on the heart and causes it to have to work harder. Lastly, an overuse of alcohol and drugs leads to neurochemical problems and overall has negative impacts to a person’s overall health. Lastly, the increase in drug and alcohol use has lead to its own creation of disease. Alcohol is a depressant which can affect many parts of the body. When used in excess, it creates many extremely negative conditions. Overuse of alcohol can lead to brain damage because of its effect on the neurocortical structures. The most prominent effect is on the liver. The main function of the liver is to filter out bad chemicals and substances. The important thing to remember about the liver is that it is one of the fastest regenerating organs in the body; however alcohol can limit this effect. Alcohol can cause secretion of the organic chemical acetylaldehyde which negatively interacts with liver cells. The scarring produced by this can lead to conditions known as cirrhosis and/or end stage liver failure. Cirrhosis causes scarring on the liver by causing inflammation, fibrosis, and necrosis. End stage liver failure often results in the need for a liver transplant (Maher, 1997). The use of other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol has been linked to cancer in various locations. For example, in cigarettes and chewing tobacco there are a number of known carcinogens which can cause cancer in the lungs (cigarettes) and in places such as the jaw (chewing tobacco). Being around a person who is smoking, for example in traffic, can be just as deadly to the person that is smoking the cigarette (Richardson, 2003). The purpose of the first part of the paper was to address the physiological responses and effects in G20 countries associated with lifestyle choice, but what is the underlying theme of these choices being made? In order to get an entire viewpoint on why people in G20 countries have bad lifestyle choices, the psychological factors must first be understood. The main encompassing factor which has been the hot topic of debate and research has been based on stress. Stress, on a cognitive perspective, can be defined as when a person’s perceived demands outweigh their perceived coping resources (Linden, 2005). On a neurological level, stress can cause the secretion of Cortisol in the brain which in turn can affect other key neurotransmitter levels which have an effect on the physiology mentioned above such as serotonin and dopamine. It has been shown that increase in the activation of the secretion of cortisol causes an increase in eating habits (Bjorntorp, Rosmond, & Udden, 2000). This in turn causes the physiological conditions such as obesity, cancer, heart disease etc. It also influences the behavior. A resulting both physiological and psychological condition which can come as a result of stress which again can influence all these physiological conditions is sleep patterns. Sleep is necessary for the body to regenerate both cognitively and physically. Sleep allows the brain to process memories and knowledge that was accumulated throughout the day and stores it in cognitive structures. Physiologically, the metabolism of the body is slowed down and regeneration of tissues in the body typically occurs. Especially, when there has been high physical involvement and/or stress, it is imperative that the body recovers. Insomnia and sleep related disorders lead to the inability to hit REM sleep which considered to be one of the crucial stages of sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement (Aldrich, 1999). In relation for stress and overall physical health/mortality, sleep patterns have become an important topic in health psychology. When someone does not receive the appropriate amount of sleep, the problems of the unconscious spill over into the day which causes more anxiety and stress. This then translates into maladaptive coping measures which can lead to conditions of poor dieting, low activity level, and drug abuse/dependence. It is especially prevalent in jobs which require regular work in the night shift. This messes with the body’s natural circadian rhythms which can have detrimental physiological and cognitive effects. Some of the sleep related disorders are sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and hyper insomnia ((Schenck, 2007). Above are all associated with the lifestyle that progressive and highly industrial societies live. The increase in the demand for productivity and efficiency cause changes in the daily life of individuals. As a result, it is not abnormal to see unhealthy responses to this change in environment. When we compare the lifestyle of, for example, the United States and Malaysia, the ways of life are completely different. The United States tends to have one of the largest populations that are obese and have a poor diet which translates into all of the problems discussed. They also have a fast rate of production and technological advancements, but the stress level is also high. In Malaysia, the diet has less processed foods and additives in addition to the fact that big business restaurants and fast food corporations have a minimum impact. The economy of Malaysia is also not as technologically and industrially developed as the United States indicating a slower lifestyle. There has also been an increase and evolution of healthcare systems around the world. Mortality rates in general are lower due to advancements in science and medicine; however, fatalities in G20 countries are more often the result of self-infliction than as the result of illness that comes from the environment. Heart disease and cancer are the main killers in this world. In some cases, there is the biological factor of either inheriting the disease or inheriting a predisposition to the disease. In most cases, these diseases come as a result of poor lifestyle choices that were made that have caused this illness to occur. The good news about all of the psychological and physiological conditions that were discussed above is that they can be prevented and they can be treated, but how can people living in G20 countries accomplish this (Cooper, Kirton, & Shrecker, 2007). With all the technology and ingenuity at the disposal of G20 countries, it is a complete reality to help prevent many of these self-inflicted diseases. Promoting appropriate awareness regarding the importance of daily nutrition is extremely important. Government publication of living an active lifestyle is also important, but what about people who are already having these types of problems? Depending on the severity of their condition, there are many medications and treatments that are available. Counseling and therapy can also be used in order to help cognitively restructure habits in order to make good choices so that bad habits become extinct. By people taking responsibility and with the help of government programming, the mortality rate associated with these conditions can be decreased resulting in healthier and more productive lifestyles. References Aldrich, M. (1999). Sleep medicine. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Bjorntorp, P, Rosmond, R, & Udden, J. (2000). Obesity and Stress. (2000). Encyclopedia of stress. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Buckmaster, L, & Brownell, K. (1988). The social and psychological world of the obese child. Childhood obesity: a biobehavioral approach (pp. 9-24). Caldwell, NJ: The Teleford Press. Cooper, A, Kirton, J, & Shrecker, T. (2007).Governing global health: challenge, response, innovation. Hampshire, England: Ashgate Publishing. Dwyer, J. (1994). Medical evaluation and classification of obesity. In R. Chernoff (Ed.), Obesity: Pathophysiology, psychology, and treatment New York, NY. Gardner, H. (2006). Changing minds: the art and science of changing our own and other people's minds . 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