There are epidemics of both obesity and heart disease in the United States, Australia, China also Malaysia, and Singapore. and they are closely connected.
Obesity and heart disease share many of the same risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. But it’s not just about weight — there are many other contributing factors to heart disease.
Read on to know what it is about the weight that puts you at risk for heart disease, and what you can do about it.
Having excess pounds increases the risk for heart disease because of the increased risk of other conditions such as:
These all contribute to an increased risk of heart disease.
Even if you don’t have other conditions, obesity alone is a risk factor for heart disease. This is thought to be due to the increased inflammatory markers in obesity, which can lead to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), heart attacks, or heart failure.
Interestingly, though, there are some groups of people who live longer if they have overweight or with mild obesity
:
This is something called the “obesity paradox.” Scientists don’t fully know how to explain this yet.
As weight increases, changes happen in your body that can increase heart disease risk. You may develop high blood pressure, your cholesterol may increase, and your blood glucose levels may increase. Many of these changes are silent, so you might not even know they are happening — which is why they are so dangerous. And, as you’ll see, being overweight has many knock-on effects throughout the body that increase the risk of heart disease in many ways.
Obesity may change how your body processes cholesterol, which can lead to increased levels of cholesterol, specifically:
These can all increase the risk of heart disease.
Having excess weight can also lead to high blood pressure. This is because your heart muscle has to pump harder. As it pumps harder, the blood vessels may stiffen in response. The kidneys may not work as well and fluid may build up in the blood vessels. All of this can cause high blood pressure.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which the upper airway can narrow and collapse during sleep. This can lead to snoring, pauses in breathing, and even awakening in the night gasping for air. Having overweight or obese increases the chances of having sleep apnea and most people (60% to 90%) with obstructive sleep apnea have overweight or obese.
OSA is closely linked with heart disease, and it is estimated that between 40% to 60% of people with heart disease also have sleep apnea.
OSA can affect the heart in many ways, including increased risk for:
Also worrying is that people with OSA who also have heart disease often have more complications and worse outcomes, including an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden death.
There is a strong link between obesity and diabetes. In fact, obesity is the main risk factor for diabetes. Both obesity and diabetes are strong risk factors for heart disease.
Obesity and diabetes share many of the same risk factors, including:
There is also a strong link between diabetes and heart disease: Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease by causing direct damage to the blood vessels around the heart, and it increases other risk factors for heart disease such as:
There is no doubt about it, weight loss can be hard. But even just losing just 3% to 5% of total body weight can make a big impact. Saxenda For Weight Loss
There are three areas to focus on to be successful:
A heart-healthy diet can help with weight loss and diabetes control. Your diet has a big impact on your heart health. A heart-healthy diet means having a diet that is high in:
You should avoid foods such as:
Moving your body is crucial for your heart health. Physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight, and improve cholesterol levels.
Your goal exercise for exercise is:
When diet and exercise changes don’t make enough of an impact on your weight or diabetes, it may be time to think about weight-loss medications. These medications work best alongside diet and exercise. Some examples of weight-loss medications include:
Each medication has unique benefits and side effects, so make sure to talk with your healthcare provider about what the best option might be for you.
Your heart health and your weight are closely connected. Having overweight or obese may increase your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea — all of which also increase heart disease risk. The good news is that there are steps you can take to have a healthy weight while also improving your heart health.
What is Mounjaro for Weight Loss? Outline Introduction to Mounjaro Understanding weight loss supplements What…
Is Liraglutide Prescription Only? 2day Outline of the Article Introduction to Liraglutide What is Liraglutide?…
Why am I using Saxenda? Unveiling the Motivations Behind Saxenda Usage: Exploring Weight Management Goals…
Unveiling the Optimal Timing for Saxenda: Maximizing Effectiveness and Minimizing Side Effects, What is the…
Do I need a prescription for Saxenda Australia?Navigating Saxenda in Australia: Prescription Requirements Unveiled Introduction:…
Why am I not losing weight on semaglutide? Decoding the Weight Loss Puzzle: Unveiling Reasons…