If you have unhealthy eating habits then you are susceptible to lot of health complications and some of them can be fatal. One of the reason people continue with their unhealthy eating routines is because most of the complications arise over time and not overnight. Eating habits are difficult to change but with some discipline and consistent efforts it can be done. There are several diseases and conditions associated with unhealthy eating habits. Some of the unhealthy eating risks are as follows.

If your body mass index (BMI) is over 40 then you are obese and are prone to many problems ranging from restricted movement to stroke. Being obese also puts a strain on the joints and you will experience rather discomforting pain. The excess weight also causes wear and tear in the cartilage in the joints which may lead to conditions like osteoarthritis. Inactivity brought about by obesity can also be a worrying symptom.

One of the other unhealthy eating risks is high blood pressure which is also known as hypertension. This condition occurs when the heart pumps excess blood and this puts a strain on the arterial walls. People can live without any symptoms of high blood pressure for years, but they can suddenly cause complications without warning. High blood pressure is also one of the causes of kidney failure and heart diseases.

One of the psychological conditions brought on by unhealthy eating habits and being overweight is depression. In some extreme cases people suffering from depression are known to commit suicide. It also brings about a state of inactivity and loss of interest in routine activities like going to work, doing house hold chores, and lack of personal hygiene. Lack of self esteem is one of the other symptoms that can be brought on by this condition. Things like career, education and relationships can be hampered to a great extent in such a state.

Many studies have proved a correlation between the heart and eating habits, even the American Heart Association (AHA) points out this connection. Some of the fatal diseases associated with unhealthy eating lifestyle are heart attack and congestive heart failure. Eating habits also increase triglyceride levels which can be harmful and at times fatal. High cholesterol levels caused by unhealthy eating habits is one of the main reasons behind cardiovascular problems.

In order to understand as to how heart disease affects the body, it is very essential to get a better idea about the functioning of the circulatory system, and the role of the heart. The circulatory system (cardiovascular system), which is made up of blood, heart and blood vessels, is responsible for supplying oxygenated blood and nutrients to all parts of the body. The oxygen and nutrients, that are delivered to the body cells and tissues help in the normal functioning of the body; to be precise, they are essential for survival. Any disorder and/or defect in the circulatory system, which is more or less related to heart disease, can affect the overall metabolism of the body.

From the many forms of heart disease, let’s discuss the side-effects of coronary artery disease, which is one of the most common types. As the name suggests, coronary heart disease or arteriosclerosis is a condition in which there is formation of plaque in the arterial walls. The ultimate result is narrowing or blocking of the blood vessels, wherever the plaques are present. If plaque is formed in blood vessels, that deliver blood to the brain, it can lead to stroke; whereas, in case of a narrowed blood vessel in the heart, it can lead to heart attack. In case of blockages in the kidney, it will affect the kidney. The potential outcomes may be an elevated blood pressure, malfunctioning of the kidney or even kidney failure. Arterial blockages in the intestinal area may cause problem in blood supply to the intestines.

If blockage of arteries occur in the arms or legs, it is referred to as peripheral vascular disease (PVD). PVD may disturb the ability to move the arms or legs, which in turn, can lead to disability, gangrene, ulceration and amputation (in severe cases). At times, these plaques can rupture, leading to the closure of the artery. Let’s take another example of a woman, born with a congenital heart disease, a condition, whereby there is a defect in the heart structure or the large blood vessels of the

Upper abdominal bloating could be due to consumption of such foods by the individual, which he or she is allergic to. For example, many people suffer from food allergies like lactose intolerance. So when they consume milk or other milk based products such as curd and cheese, they experience bloating, nausea, belching, gas, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.

Upper abdominal discomfort could be due to swallowing of air, known as Aerophagia. Swallowing of air can take place while the person is eating, talking, smoking, breathing through mouth (when there is accumulation of mucus in the nasal passages) or even when one has stress. Normally, air in the esophagus is passed out when a person belches, however, if the air instead of going out, enters the gastrointestinal tract, it remains there till it is passed through the anus, causing upper abdominal bloating and gas.  Upper abdominal bloating after eating, could be due to overeating or due to intake of certain foods which are very difficult to digest. Examples of such foods are – high fiber vegetables like cabbage, beans and sprouts, high sugar foods like sweets and soft drinks, starchy foods like potatoes, pasta and bread as well as alcoholic drinks, especially beer.

Upper abdominal bloating could be emanating from the structures found there. For instance, pancreas, which are found in the stomach, may get inflamed and result in a disease known as Pancreatitis. Increased intake of alcohol and gallstones, either of these can cause this condition, which almost always produces symptoms of bloating and severe pain in the abdomen. Upper abdominal bloating and pain, experienced just after eating, if accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, loss of appetite, tiredness and fever, could be due to food poisoning. Food poisoning is caused due to intake of foods which are contaminated with parasites, viruses, worms or bacteria.

Another reason behind upper abdominal bloating is constipation. In this condition, there is difficulty in elimination of the feces, sometimes even lesser than three times a week, which results in accumulation of wastes and toxins in the body. These wastes and body impurities cause gas and upper abdominal bloating. Some other symptoms of constipation are hard and dark-colored stools, abdominal pain and difficulty while passing stools.

Upper abdominal bloating could be due to a disease known as irritable bowel syndrome, in which the food passes either very quickly or very fast through the gut. Irritable bowel syndrome, besides bloating, produces symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, flatulence and stomach cramps. Irritable bowel syndrome gets aggravated by stress, intake of alcohol, caffeine and certain drugs. This chronic disorder is often accompanied by Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In this condition, gas gets trapped in the colon, resulting in symptoms such as, muscle spasms, upper abdominal bloating, pain and discomfort in the affected area.

Upper abdominal bloating can be caused by functional dyspepsia or indigestion, caused due to a number of factors, diseases and conditions, such as improper functioning of the muscles and nerves of the gastrointestinal tract, bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine, menstruation in women, inflammation of the colon or Colitis, and intake of certain drugs such as NSAIDs i.e., non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Due to functional dyspepsia, a person experiences discomfort, pain and bloating in the upper abdominal area. Due to this disease, the lining of the small intestine gets destroyed and thus, the body is unable to digest gluten. This disease makes a person malnourished and can produce symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, vomiting, weight loss, indigestion, smelly stools, amongst many others, in a person.

Motility disorders cause unusual movements in the muscles of the intestine. A person suffering from such a disorder may experience bloating in his stomach, including in the upper abdomen. Helicobacter Pylori is a bacterium which causes many of the ulcers. This bacteria in the stomach destroys the stomach lining, allowing the digestive juices to enter the abdomen layer and irritate it further. This bacterium produces a number of symptoms in the stomach, which include abdominal bloating, nausea, burping, weight loss and gas.