Kenichiro Higashi writes:
Patient A and B have some similarities
in terms of diet. For example, both of them like fatty food. Patient A
prefers ice cream, eggs and fatty meats. Patient B prefers cheese. All
of these are fatty foods.
On the other hand, there are many differences between patient A and B in
terms of their health. First, patient A already has abnormalities of the
heart and arteries, while patient B seems to be normal. To illustrate,
patient A has "angina" chest pain and his arteries have been
confirmed to be narrowing. Another problem is also indicated by his LDL-cholesterol
level (165). Second, patient A does little or no exercise, while patient
B likes to ride her bicycle on weekends. Finally, patient B has unique
problems in terms of her health. These are being overweight, smoking and
her family history of diabetes. All of these factors indicate an increased
risk of heart disease, although she is normal at present.
Suggestions to patient A are as follows. First, he should avoid fatty food
and eat more fiber-rich food such as vegetables and fruits. Fiber helps
reduce cholesterol levels. He should eat no more than 4 egg yolks a week
and replace ice cream with nonfat yogurt and ice milk. He should choose
lean cuts of meat and cut down on the amount when eating meats. Second,
daily and moderate exercise is recommended although too much exercise should
be avoided. Exercise helps increase his HDL-cholesterol level, which is
effective to reduce the LDL-cholesterol level. Finally, he should be checked
often by doctors because he already has problems in his heart and arteries.
It may be necessary to use proper medicine in addition to these changes
in his life style.
Suggestions to patient B on her diet are the same as for patient A. She
should also avoid fatty food and eat more fiber-rich food. She should limit
consumption of cheese because it contains high cholesterol. She had better
eat whole grain bread instead of white bread, because the former contains
much fiber and vitamins. Furthermore, the total calories of her diet are
also important. She should reduce her weight to a proper level. Fiber-rich
foods can also help when she is trying to lose weight. Besides, she had
better stop smoking. Riding a bicycle is good for her health, so she should
continue. If possible, daily exercise is recommended. Although she is normal
at present, she should be checked regularly by doctors because she has
several high risk factors. All of the suggestions above can reduce the
risks except her genetic factor. So it is notable that she should become
conscious of her constitution of diabetes.
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