Many people want to lose weight for aesthetic reasons, but there is more to maintaining a healthy weight than looking good. Perhaps you should be more concerned about the risks to your health, and especially to your heart.
How Weight Can Cause Heart Problems
There are many ways that being overweight can have a negative effect on your heart. One of the biggest risk factors for the heart is heart disease. When you are overweight, the extra weight can put a strain on the heart, increasing your risk of heart disease.
Extra weight around the waist can be particularly risky because midsection fat is different from other fat in the body. Visceral fat is particularly bad for the heart, especially in women. Even dropping as few as 10 pounds can lower your risk of heart disease, so if you are currently overweight, now is the time to act.
Cholesterol is another risk factor for heart disease if it becomes too high. If you have too much in your blood, it can build up in the arteries, causing them to narrow. This slows the blood flow to the heart, which can cause serious problems.
Cholesterol can be especially problematic because you may not be aware that it is high, so check your cholesterol levels every few years. You don’t need to be overweight to have high cholesterol, but being overweight can certainly make it worse.
High blood pressure can also become worse if you are overweight. This can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. You can easily get your blood pressure measured, and if it is too high, you should do something about it. Although being overweight can affect blood pressure, eating too much salt and not doing enough activity can also affect it.
If you are overweight, you may have a faster heart rate because the heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body. Over time, this can cause the muscles of the heart to thicken, known as hypertrophy, and this can lead to heart failure.
Are You Overweight?
Work out your Body Mass Index (BMI) to find out if you are overweight. You can do this by using a simple calculation:
- Find out your weight in pounds
- Multiply it by 703
- Divide this by your height in inches
- And then divide once more by the same number
The ideal BMI is between 19 and 25. If you are over 25, you should start to consider how you can lower your weight.
If you are overweight, now is the time to act. Forget about appearances, and think about your heart. Some people enjoy success by simply changing their lifestyles, whereas some people may require more drastic treatment like liposuction. (Click here to find out more about this option.)
Whatever you decide, make sure you try to maintain a healthy weight because otherwise you could be putting your heart at risk.
Keep Your Heart Healthy
Work on keeping your heart healthy by eating a good diet full of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and fish, and drink plenty of water. You can also reduce your salt intake if you have high blood pressure. Prevention is always better than cure, and if you have a healthy diet and lifestyle, this will help to prevent heart problems.
If you are overweight, one of the best things you can do for your heart is to drop a few pounds. Remember, a little goes a long way, and losing just a few pounds can make a big difference for your heart. So watch your diet, keep active, and protect your heart by leading a healthier lifestyle.
Dr. Kevin Ruhge is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons who runs a busy cosmetic surgery practice in sunny Pasadena, California. He serves patients throughout southern California and throughout the United States. His illuminating and informative posts appear mainly on health, medical and wellness websites.
