What effect does being overweight have on the heart?

Excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of developing many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Negative effects of being overweight:

 

1. Increased load on the heart - obesity causes an increased load on the heart, which in turn leads to a violation of the normal function of the heart. At this time, blood pressure and heart rate increase.

2. High risk of hypertension - the risk of developing arterial hypertension is 3 times higher in overweight patients. 50% of people with this problem suffer from high blood pressure, which increases the load on the heart.

3. High risk of developing coronary artery disease - obesity is often accompanied by an increase in cholesterol levels, which in turn leads to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.

4. Increased risk of heart failure - Uncontrolled high blood pressure and coronary artery disease disrupt normal heart function, eventually leading to heart muscle damage and heart failure.

5. Risk of arrhythmia - obesity can cause heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation, which significantly increases the risk of various complications, including ischemic stroke and heart failure.

6. Diabetes and metabolic syndrome - overweight is often accompanied by insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, which is closely related to the development of cardiovascular diseases.

7. Sleep Apnea - Obesity is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can further increase the risk of hypertension and heart disease.

 

Maintaining a normal weight with a balanced diet and regular physical activity significantly reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

 

In cases where the body mass index (BMI) is significantly higher than the norm and the patient is at risk of developing obesity-related diseases, as well as if effective weight loss does not occur despite multiple radiotherapy and treatment, bariatric surgery is possible. Selection of the bariatric surgery method and planning of the surgical procedure is done individually, depending on the patient's condition.