I was planning on blogging about exercise today, but as I was working on a research paper I came across the statistics on heart disease. The numbers gave me anxiety.
I don't understand why people choose to be so unhealthy.
As you’ve probably heard me say many times, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. In 2006, 631,636 people died from heart disease, accounting for 26% of deaths in 2006. An estimated 785,000 Americans have their first heart attack each year. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more heart attacks will have another attack.
Risk factors for heart disease include inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoke, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Stress also plays into it.
And now you’re thinking, well maybe I’m a little stressed and overweight… not as active as I should be, but I don’t have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and I don’t smoke, so I’m fine!
Well that may be so, but when’s the last time you went to the doctor? Do you know you don’t have high cholesterol?
But who has time to go to the doctor?
Avoiding the problem doesn’t fix the problem. Avoiding the problem leads to you being another statistic; having a heart attack and/or being dead.
Lifestyle changes are always hard at first. It just takes a little motivation, discipline, and perseverance. Anyone can do it if they really set their mind to it. Don't stress about what you've done in the past and just know that you can make good choices everyday to make sure your future is everything you want it to be.
However, I’m just keeping it real with myself and I’ve accepted the fact that most people, for whatever reason, are not going to put forth the effort to take care of themselves, but you don't have to be one of these people :)
I would like nothing more than for everyone to live a happy and healthy life.
That’s all. Have a good weekend.
P.S. I feel like it’s very important for everyone to realize that being a vegetarian will not save you if you are obese and don’t exercise.
