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10 signs of heart disease due to excess sugar intake

The term ‘heart disease’ is used to refer to a variety of conditions, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral heart disease, aortic disease, and others. These cardiovascular conditions are serious and put one’s life in grave danger. Learning their signs and symptoms can help recognize these conditions in their nascent stages and seek early treatment for a better chance of recovery. Thus, some early signs of heart disease to watch out for include:

Chest pain
Any discomfort or pain felt in the front of the body, in the region between the neck and the upper abdomen, is classified as chest pain. It is one of the most common symptoms that occurs due to poor blood flow to the heart or due to a heart attack. The severity of this pain may differ from person to person. During a heart attack, this pain may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, general weakness, change in skin color, extreme anxiety, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, or sweating.

Shortness of breath
A weakened heart can disrupt blood flow and cause blood to back up in the veins that go from the lungs to the heart. This fluid can enter the lungs and cause shortness of breath or even a choking sensation and may lead to heart failure.

Coughing or wheezing
Fluid buildup in the lungs could also lead to coughing or wheezing. Some people may cough up pink or red mucus.

Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
Weakened blood pumping can also slow down blood flow and cause blood to pool in the veins running through the legs, causing swelling, pain, and discomfort in the legs, ankles, and feet.

Feeling sweaty
It’s normal to feel hot and sweaty during the summer months. However, if this sweat is accompanied by chest pain, call an ambulance or head to the hospital immediately.

Stomach pain or indigestion
A burning sensation in the chest and stomach could also be a sign of a heart attack or cardiovascular problem. However, it can be tough to distinguish between heartburn and disease as the symptoms vary from person to person. When unsure, seek professional assistance and get tested to rule out any confusion.

Arm pain
A shooting pain that runs down the left arm can also be an indicator of a heart attack. If the pain does not go away, visit the emergency department immediately.

Fatigue
Fatigue is associated with several health conditions. While, in some cases, it may be an indicator that one needs to rest, it could also indicate heart troubles, especially when it is sudden, severe, or impedes daily activities.

Palpitations
When the heart is unable to pump blood normally, it may increase its pace to supply blood throughout the body. This can cause palpitations, that is, the sensation of a rising or throbbing heartbeat. It could also be a sign of arrhythmia.

Poor blood supply to extremities
The buildup of cholesterol and plaque in the arteries can also slow down blood supply. While it may not be characterized as heart disease, it increases the risk of developing one in the future. Poor blood supply in the legs could lead to pain, aching, burning, fatigue, or discomfort in the muscles of the thighs, calves, and feet.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country. People living with diabetes or high blood sugar are at greater risk of developing a heart condition or having a stroke because high blood sugar damages the blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. It then gives rise to other conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides; since none of these have any symptoms, they can often go unreported until much later. Diabetes, however, has several early warning signs. Some of these include increased thirst (polydipsia), dry mouth, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, slow-healing sores and cuts, frequent skin or vaginal yeast infections, and in some cases, chronic constipation.

Making lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains and cutting down on processed foods, trans fats, and sugary drinks can help. Exercising regularly and reducing stress levels can also control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Understanding arthritis – A common joint condition

The joints are constantly working while we move our limbs, so, understandably, people may develop certain joint conditions that cause pain and compromise mobility, especially with age. One of the common joint conditions is arthritis, which leads to joint inflammation and mild to severe pain. While there are several types of arthritis, the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Stages Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages: Stage 1: At this stage, inflammation occurs inside the joints, and swelling, stiffness, and joint pain are the common symptoms. Stage 2: The inflammation of the joint lining, synovium, aggravates at this stage and results in cartilage damage. The affected jointsâ range of motion is also compromised, causing pain and discomfort. Stage 3: At this stage, the severity of the joint condition increases, and it leads to bone damage. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. The bones rubbing against each other can cause bone deformity as well. Stage 4: This is the final stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling, and the bones may even fuse, which is known as ankylosis. Osteoarthritis also has four stages of progression: Stage 1: Wear and tear may affect the knee joints, and minor spur growths on the affected bone can also be seen, but the condition does not cause too much pain at this stage. Stage 2: The bone spur growths increase and cause pain, and the knee joints become stiffer. Stage 3: This stage is characterized by joint inflammation leading to increased pain and stiffness. Walking can also cause poppingÂ sounds in the joints. Stage 4: The space between the bones in the joints becomes very narrow, causing the cartilage to wear down. Also, a chronic inflammatory response caused by the breakdown of cartilage aggravates discomfort and pain. Diagnosis of arthritis These joint conditions can be diagnosed using several tests. A physical examination reveals whether a patient has red, warm, and tender joints, and this test also helps examine the fluid around the joints. A rheumatologist can analyze the level of inflammation in the joints to determine the type of arthritis an individual is affected with. Also, blood tests are undertaken to check for antibodies like anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibody. In addition, X-ray, CT scans, and MRI are also performed to check the condition of the cartilage and bones. Prevention of arthritis A family history of joint conditions like arthritis or aging can increase oneâs risk of developing arthritis, but making certain lifestyle changes can also help lower the chances of developing the condition. To start with, one should include more foods with omega-3 fatty acids in their diet as these healthy fats are anti-inflammatory. One should also exercise regularly, keep their weight under check, reduce stress on their joints, and try to avoid injuries. Also, if one notices any symptoms of arthritis, they should consult a doctor immediately as early diagnosis goes a long way in managing the condition effectively through timely treatment.

6 signs of poor eyesight caused by excessive blood sugar

High blood sugar can be caused by high amounts of sugar consumption, insulin deficiency, or in some other way. Either way, people with a high blood sugar ratio tend to have many health issues because of it. While high blood sugar affects nearly every organ and system in the human body, it arguably affects oneâs vision most severely. Here are some signs of poor eyesight due to excessive sugar in oneâs bloodstream: Blurry vision All the signs and symptoms listed here directly relate to diabetes, the ultimate frontier for high blood sugar-related health conditions. Blurry vision is one of the earlier signs of the dangerously high proportion of sugar in a person's blood messing with their vision. Most people believe they need new glasses or contact lenses once their vision goes blurry. However, people need to get their eyes tested by an ophthalmologist to confirm whether they need a new pair of contact lenses or other diabetes-related treatment methods. By bringing one's blood sugar levels into the acceptable range of about 70 to 130 milligrams per deciliter before meals and less than 180 milligrams per deciliter about an hour or two after them, people can correct blurry vision. This meal correction takes up to three months for blurry vision to clear. Cataracts Diabetes is known as the silent killer due to its surprisingly wide array of symptoms and affected body areas. People with diabetes are more than likely to develop cataracts in their eyes at some point in their lives. Cataracts are characterized by the fogging or clouding of one's natural eye lens. This phenomenon prevents light from entering the eye, causing partial or total vision impairment. Cataracts are also a common part of the natural aging process. Many elderly individuals tend to develop it, and not everyone has diabetes. Therefore, one must consult their eye doctor when encountering cataracts for the first time. The health expert will inform the patient about the underlying reason for their cataracts. Commonly, cataracts can be treated surgically. The timing is key, though. Cataracts tend to become stronger and more translucent with time. So, if they are not addressed immediately, people with cataracts are vulnerable to permanently losing their vision completely and irreversibly. Diabetic retinopathy Retinopathy is unmistakably linked with high blood sugar, unlike the earlier two diseases. This health condition involves damaged blood vessels in an individual's retina. The retina is a group of cells on the backward zones of one's eyes that absorb light and turn it into images that the optic nerve carries into the brain. So, this tiny organ is instrumental in a person's vision. Like most diabetes-induced vision-related health issues, diabetic retinopathy becomes more and more adverse with time. One needs to get checked by an eye doctor when they experience symptoms like blurry vision, double vision, and night blindness. If this condition is not diagnosed and treated on time, people living with it may permanently lose their vision. Eye muscle paralysis High blood sugar is known to damage the circulatory system and the transport of nutrients and oxygen to various parts of the body. This leads to the paralysis of the eye muscles in individuals. The eyes consist of several muscles that are interdependent. So, if one or two muscles are paralyzed, an individual's overall vision gets adversely affected. As the eyes do not work in sync and the brain receives multiple inputs of the same images from both, people will experience double vision when they have eye muscle paralysis. Glaucoma Glaucoma is a condition caused by diabetes in which pressure builds in an individual's eyes when the fluid within cannot normally drain as in normal circumstances. This damages the blood vessels and nerves around the area and adversely affects a person's eyesight. Frequent eye infections High blood sugar and diabetes also adversely affect a personâs immunity. This means that people with these conditions are highly susceptible to frequent infections, bouts of cough and cold, and fevers from time to time. These include eye infections such as irritation, the growth of boils around oneâs eyes, and others.While many of these infections are seasonal, one needs to consult an eye doctor if the infections keep returning.