5 Ways Weight Loss Supports Improved Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. And one of the top contributing risk factors for the contraction of heart disease? Obesity is a chronic condition that happens when your fat cells grow in size and quantity.

Obesity raises your risk for all sorts of dangerous health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, all of which leave you much more vulnerable to heart disease. Excess weight from obesity also puts strain and stress on your heart, which can also lead to serious heart conditions.

February is American Heart Month, so our team at Anodyne Pain and Wellness Solutions in Newark, Delaware, explains how obesity impacts your risk for heart disease and how weight loss can help.

How obesity impacts heart health

Obesity is calculated and diagnosed through a measurement known as body mass index (BMI), which takes into account your height and weight. If your BMI is over 25, you’re considered overweight; a BMI over 30 indicates obesity.

Being obese and carrying excess weight and fat can directly impact your heart’s health. Obesity can cause plaque to build up in your arteries, change the structure of your heart, cause arrhythmias, and increase your risk of developing blood clots.

In addition, obesity can lead to heart-damaging conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea.

These conditions can cause your heart to work harder and lead to dangerous structural changes, putting you at risk for heart failure or heart attack.

How weight loss improves heart health

Thankfully, weight loss can drastically improve your heart health. Even losing 5-10% of your current weight can relieve significant strain off your heart. Additionally, weight loss offers these five benefits for your heart:

Reduces blood pressure
Reduces bad cholesterol
Reduces insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes
Relieves obstructive sleep apnea
Reduces body fat

Surefire methods for weight loss include exercising regularly, quitting smoking, lowering portion sizes, and eating nutrient-rich foods.

How our medically-supervised weight loss plans can help

If trying to lose weight through conventional methods proves too difficult, or if you’re having trouble getting started, our Anodyne Pain and Wellness Solutions team offers comprehensive weight-loss plans to help you achieve your weight-loss goals.

We can put together a nutrition plan and exercise routine and prescribe weight-loss medications if you’re a good fit for weight-loss drugs. Whatever your needs, our team is here to help you improve your health and boost your self-confidence along the way.

To learn more about how we can help improve your heart health through weight loss, schedule a consultation by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.