Healing and Feeling

           In the human body, trillions of metabolic reactions occur each second, in order to produce energy that is vital for the body’s function. This function is largely dependent on the quantity and quality of food consumed and physical activity. I learned this while living in Costa Rica, where I got a glimpse into the drastic effects living a healthy lifestyle can have on your overall health and quality of life. The overall function of our body depends largely on the lifestyle choices we make. In order for the foods we consume to provide our bodies with energy that food must be broken down to be used by each cell in our body. There are many biochemical processes within our body that must occur to transform food into cellular energy. One of the first pathways to perform the breakdown of the sugars in our food to extract energy is glycolysis.  In my biochemistry class our teacher brought to our attention the taxing reality the average American diet can have on our bodies. Within our body’s intricate systems there are diverse and innovative ways in which our bodies break down the foods we consume. However, foods that are ultra processed with foreign chemical makeups often lead to inflammation within our systems. Although our bodies have a profound ability to adapt and heal itself, there is a point in which bodies are not equipped to metabolize. While abroad, I learned the impact a poor diet can have on quality of life, but later discovered the human body's incredible ability to heal when provided the correct fuel.

            In BIOL 541: Biochemistry we discussed a few of the infinite biochemical processes that the body completes daily in order to pull energy from our meals. The body's ability to break down, digest, and extract nutrients from our foods is complex and incredible. Through the combined interaction of biological macromolecules, the human body is able to transform milkshakes and fries into chemical energy using metabolic processes. In Artifact 1 the human body’s metabolic cycle known as glycolysis creates energy within biological systems is discussed. Glycolysis breaks down the glucose within food to extract energy for cells (Levina 2020). One of the final products of glycolysis is ATP which is known as the universal currency of free energy for our cells in our bodies (Levina 2020). Each molecule has a unique configuration and task that is ctrital in the goal of achieving ATP (Levina 2020). Oftentimes, we consume foods in our diet that are not as easily interpreted by the molecules within our bodies. The disconnect from our system’s natural metabolic processes and ultra-processed food leads to inflammation. Although our bodies are resilient in the breakdown of foreign indigestible foods, there are still limitations with the types of foods and amount in which our bodies are able to digest. 

           Currently, I am a cardiovascular technology student completing my clinical hours at Providence Hospital in Columbia. Time spent at the hospital working alongside sonographers and physicians has allowed me to witness the lives of varying types of patients. Although each patient has an individual story, the underlying theme behind why each patient is in need of an echocardiography scan is often similar. Patients with cardiovascular disease experience a range of health issues often due to the same cause. Obesity, smoking, drinking, genetics, and lack of physical activity all play a role in cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease or heart failure is currently the leading cause of death in the United States and negatively affects millions of Americans each year. The daily lifestyle choices people make has positive or negative effects on their health. 

           As humans we often judge based on what is seen. In sonography, we look at images of the heart using sound waves to show function. In the Cath lab, x-ray images with contrast are used to show where a blockage in the heat is located. Artifact 2 shows sonographic images of hearts with different pathologies that all involve the effects of long-term poor lifestyle choices. However, the compounding effects of an individual’s unseen daily choices are truly seen when we view their heart. In society, weight is an indicator for health and wellbeing. In sonography, we look at overall heart function. If only looking at what is seen, problems end up being misdiagnosed. Specific to heart disease, pills are prescribed to treat a patient's symptoms for hypertension. High blood pressure medications function by managing blood pressure. For a system as complex and intricate as the cardiovascular system, simply prescribing a pill  is like mopping the floor with the sink running. Unfortunately, there is no pill created that will permanently heal heart disease. It is important to remember that our bodies have simple metabolic processes like glycolysis in order to support our lives.  Our bodies are not able to break down complex chemically processed foods. 

           While in Costa Rica, I was able to learn about the external effects a poor diet can have on health. The understanding of the relationship between quality of life and types of food that is consumed was pivotal to fueling my passion around the issues related to the average American diet. The large consumption of red meat, sugar, and processed foods has an immense impact on our health. During my time abroad, I listened to many stories from diverse people with issues of inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune disease, diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. Struggling with digestive and stomach issues for over five years, I began to listen to my own body. I learned that a plant-based diet was able to cure many of the inflammatory based issues that I experienced on a daily basis. Although the original switch to new bacteria within my food in a new country almost crippled my experience abroad and quality of life, the dietary switch to more nutritious foods allowed me to find new freedoms within my day. My body was crying out for less Chick fil A and more cauliflower. Artifact 3 shows the normal echocardiography images of a healthy heart. It is important as a future sonographer to have a strong understanding of normal heart functions.  

            Through my experiences in medicine and abroad, I have learned that living a healthy lifestyle means balancing care of mind, body, and spirit. Witnessing patients’ quality of life in the hospital deteriorate due to their lifestyle and excess consumption of food, broke my heart. The excess consumption of food to which a person becomes obese affects both their mind and body. Their physical ability and mental health are directly impacted. Due to lifestyle choices, the quality of a person’s life is often lost. However, through resilient biochemical processes our bodies are able to heal when provided the correct fuel.