Lapsurgery.com.au, The connection between obesity and heart disease – Individuals who are overweight are more likely to develop health conditions that can lead to heart disease. Research has shown, for many years, that there are a range of health risks associated with being overweight or obese. In fact, those who are overweight are much more likely to develop serious health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, which can, in time, contribute to heart disease.
Now, studies suggest that excess body weight is more than a contributing factor when it comes to heart-related problems — being obese can actually cause direct damage to the heart muscle. Read on to find out more about the connection between obesity and heart health, and how bariatric surgery may help you regain overall wellness.
What is the connection between excess weight and heart failure?
When one experiences heart failure, what essentially happens is that the heart is not able to function as efficiently as it should. There are a number of possible causes of heart disease, and new research suggests that obesity could be one of these. It appears that even without well-known markers for heart disease — hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, for example — obesity is a likely culprit.
Excess fat can also affect your hormonal health, which can then cause an increase in your blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition that is closely linked with heart and circulatory diseases.
How can you lower your risk of heart disease?
Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a health condition like diabetes or hypertension, but you are obese, you could be at risk of heart injury and disease. For this reason, it is important to take steps to shed excess weight in ways that are healthy and sustainable. In fact, the best way to reduce your risk of heart failure in the future is to lose or control your weight. It’s also advisable to have your risk of heart disease assessed by your health practitioner so that you can take any necessary action — your doctor will be able to let you know what your BMI is, as well as your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
If you know that you have a high BMI and that you are obese, it is important that you watch out for possible signs of heart disease and that you see your doctor as soon as possible if you are concerned. Possible signs of heart failure include shortness of breath, an irregular heart beat and fatigue.
Can weight loss surgery help?
The European Society of Cardiology recently published a paper in the European Heart Journal which looked at the effect of bariatric surgery on patients with cardiovascular disease. The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of weight loss surgery on cardiovascular outcomes, and found that bariatric surgery is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality, as well as lowered incidence of several cardiovascular diseases in patients with obesity. The researchers suggested that bariatric surgery should therefore be considered in these patients.
How can we help?
Dr Stephen Watson offers a comprehensive range of weight loss procedures, including the Allurion Balloon Programme; SASI-S; SADI-S; gastric sleeve surgery; gastric bypass surgery; revisional weight loss surgery; and gastric banding.
If you are struggling with your weight and are concerned about its impact on your health, we encourage you to come in and see Dr Watson for a consultation. He will get to know your goals, health concerns and lifestyle before determining the best treatment plan for your needs.
For more information about the bariatric procedures that Dr Watson offers, please have a look here.
If you would like to arrange a consultation with Dr Watson, please get in touch here or give us a call on (08) 6311 7578.
