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Dangerous Diets That Can Get You Sick
Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions Safe and Healthy
If, when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s, you vowed to make this the year you finally take control of your weight issues and adopt a healthier lifestyle, know you are not alone.
Weight loss is perhaps the most popular New Year’s resolution, and most of us get super excited when we decide to shed those extra pounds once and for all.
How we approach our newly set goals will determine how well we manage to stick to the new routine and become healthier. Slow and steady is the best approach; learning how to make better food choices and slowly building our strength through exercise is the ideal.
Unfortunately, most of us get discouraged when we don’t see extreme results in a short period. And either we turn to our old unhealthy habits, or we try to find some quick fix. It’s these quick fixes that can quickly turn into serious health hazards.
Weight Loss Supplements
Weight loss supplements can seem like a magical solution to our weight problems. According to the manufacturers, all you need to do is take a simple pill, and the excess fat will melt from your body without any effort on your part.
Sadly, most of those claims are not backed up by clinical research. And in many cases, those miracle cures contain dangerous substances that can harm our bodies.
One of the biggest mistakes we make as consumers is to assume a product is safe because we see it advertised and sold in stores.
Dietary supplements are not subject to the same strict FDA regulations as prescription drugs. Under the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are the ones responsible for evaluating the safety of their products, and unfortunately, not all manufacturers do.[/vc_column_text][us_image_slider ids=”24541,24535″ fullscreen=”1″ autoplay=”1″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]
Negative Side Effects of Diet Pills
Many diet pills are appetite suppressants and stimulants. These are some of the adverse side effects they produce:
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Blurred vision
- Restlessness
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Nausea or vomiting
Additionally, some of these supplements can create dependency and withdrawal symptoms, which are rather unpleasant.
When to Come to Our ER
If you are taking weight loss supplements and experience any of the following symptoms, rush to the nearest Altus Emergency Center for evaluation and treatment:
- Chest pain
- Pounding, rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Difficulty urinating
- Shortness of breath
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Detox Diets
The latest dietary trend is to detox our bodies and do intermittent fasting. But are these options effective and safe?
The detox diet claims to be the fastest way to cleanse our body of toxins that are causing us to gain weight. Unfortunately, there is little to no scientific data to back this claim.
Toxins are inevitable, while we can certainly make better food choices, the truth is toxins are always present in our food and our environment. Thankfully our bodies have a complex system to detoxify. The organs responsible for getting rid of the toxins are:
- Digestive tract
- Kidneys
- Skin,
- Lungs and respiratory system
- liver
- Lymphatic system
Detox diets are usually low in proteins and amino acids; both are essential for the well-functioning of major organs like our liver, which is responsible for cleansing our blood. Therefore, detox diets can do more harm than good, and as a result, you should avoid them.
When to Go to the ER
If you’ve been on a juice cleanse or other detox diets, you should come to the ER if you’ve had prolonged diarrhea or other signs of dehydration.[/vc_column_text][us_image_slider ids=”24539,24538″ fullscreen=”1″ autoplay=”1″ img_size=”full”][us_separator size=”small”][us_cta title=”Know Where to Go in Case of an Emergency.” btn_label=”FIND AN ER” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Faltusemergency.com%2Ffind-an-emergency-room-near-me-find-an-er%2F”][/us_cta][vc_column_text]
Gym Injuries
It’s wonderful to feel excited about improving our health and lifestyle, but doing too much too fast can result in a trip to our emergency room.
According to the National Safety Council in 2018, exercise with or without equipment accounted for 498,498 injuries, and most (89%) received treatment in the emergency room.
Sprains strains, joint inflammation, and other overuse injuries are among the most common injuries we see in the ER this time of year from well-intentioned resolution-makers.
Most are the result of people trying to do too much too fast. The best course is to ease rather than dive into a new fitness routine, slowly working yourself to longer workouts, heavier weights, and more advanced exercises.
When to go to the ER
Visit us if you experience any of the following:
- Joint swelling
- Reduced joint mobility
- Unable to put weight on your knee or ankle
- If you think you may have a broken bone
[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”24537″ size=”full”][vc_column_text]At Altus Emergency Centers, we want to support you in achieving your fitness and health goals this year. However, we urge you to be cautious and seek the help of a doctor to improve your eating habits and those of a fitness professional when you are ready to start your new exercise program.
Even with the help of professionals, accidents can happen, but you don’t need to worry, for we will always be here to help you get healthy again.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]