Obesity & Heart Disease
How do you determine if you're obese? Two key metrics help establish whether your weight is linked to a higher risk of heart disease: Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference. BMI, calculated based on height and weight, indicates obesity when it exceeds 30. Additionally, heart disease risk is elevated for men with a waist circumference (measured just above the navel) exceeding 40 inches, and for women above 35 inches.
Obesity-Related Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Obesity is linked to several heart disease risk factors, including:
High Blood Cholesterol: Elevated triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels.
High Blood Pressure: Consistently high blood pressure readings.
Type-2 Diabetes: Increased blood sugar levels.
Metabolic Syndrome: A collection of risk factors that significantly raise the chances of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Enlarged Left Ventricle: An overworked heart muscle that increases heart failure risk.
Obesity and Its Impact on Heart Health
Several heart issues are linked to obesity:
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Excess abdominal fat significantly increases CAD risk due to cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries, limiting blood flow to the heart.
Heart Failure: Obese individuals often have a higher blood volume, forcing the heart to work harder, leading to heart failure. Sleep apnea, which causes breathing pauses and blood pressure spikes, can further exacerbate heart failure risks.
Atrial Fibrillation: Obesity is a significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm often associated with heart failure.
Sudden Cardiac Death: Even without CAD or other conditions, obesity can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Hidden Inflammation: Inflammatory processes triggered by obesity can damage the cardiovascular system, resulting in structural and functional changes.
Mitigating Steps for Better Heart Health
Monitor Your Weight: Reducing your weight lowers heart disease risks, even if you don't have hypertension or diabetes.
Adopt a Weight Loss Plan: Regular exercise and a healthy diet can prevent heart failure in the future.
Check Your Risk Factors: Regularly assess BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid levels.
Watch for Signs: If you're obese, be alert to fatigue, breathlessness, and irregular heartbeat.
Lose Weight Gradually: For every 5-point increase in BMI, heart failure risk increases by 32%. Every kilo you lose helps.
Consider Surgery: When lifestyle modifications aren't enough, bariatric surgery may be an option.
At Raj Hospitals, our Heart care unit in Ranchi provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for obesity-related heart problems, ensuring you receive the best treatment from the best Hospital in Ranchi.