What Is the Link between Obesity and Heart Conditions?
Undergoing bariatric surgery will be more than worthwhile as you will not only look, feel, and function better, but the procedure may also save your life. Obesity has been connected to dozens of serious health conditions, including heart disease and heart attack. When you arrive at our clinic, Dr. Garcia will answer any more questions about the link between obesity and this condition. Of course, this will not be your first consultation.
You depend on your heart to circulate blood throughout your body. Even a few extra pounds makes its job more difficult. Morbid obesity places extreme demands on that organ. When your body grows larger, it requires a bigger supply of blood. In order to accommodate the demands of your larger body, your heart grows slightly larger in an attempt to provide a greater amount of blood with each beat. As you might imagine, this is not healthy and often results in higher blood pressure. Sometimes, it may not be able to fully empty its chambers of blood with each beat and the blood may pool over time, eventually resulting in congestive heart failure.
It is no surprise that obesity has been connected with an increased risk of heart attack. However, a recent study at the University of Glasgow in Scotland showed that obesity may cause fatal attacks, in and of itself. According to the study, obese, middle-aged men are at 60% higher risk of dying from a heart attack than non-obese middle-aged men, even after canceling out cardiovascular risk factors.
Three Ways Obesity Contributes to Heart Disease
The first involves blood cholesterol as being obese can lower the “good” HDL cholesterol, along with triglyceride levels associated with lower risk of heart disease, and raise the risk of diabetes. HDL levels are important for removing bad cholesterol and reducing your overall risk for this disease. All of these factors can increase the risk of heart conditions.
As mentioned, excessive weight can contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, at least 68% of people aged 65 or older who have diabetes also have heart disease. The AHA also lists diabetes as one of the top seven major controllable factors that can prevent this disease.
The third way that obesity can cause heart disease is that excessive weight can cause blood pressure to rise. When you are obese, you require additional blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to your body. Your body also requires more pressure to move your blood. High blood pressure is also a common cause of heart attack, which is also more common in obese individuals.
Fortunately, losing even ten or twenty pounds can significantly improve your heart health. Losing massive amounts of weight through bariatric surgery could potentially save your life.
Learn More about Obesity and Heart Conditions
If you are struggling with morbid obesity, and diet and exercise have failed, then bariatric surgery may provide you with a solution. To learn more about the connection between obesity and heart conditions, please contact Tijuana Bariatric Center. We can help you learn more about the connection between obesity and heart disease. Email or call us at 800 970-0577
