Thursday, February 20, 2014

How obesity affects the heart?

Obesity increases body mass index and fats in the body. Individuals with elevated body mass index are termed as obese. Increased body mass means the heart needs to pump more blood.

The heart works hard to pump blood in to the entire body of the obese, increasing stress on the heart. Fatty molecules present in the blood constricts blood vessels and makes it difficult for the heart to push blood through vessels.

Can obesity cause heart failure?

Excessive stress on the heart can cause heart failure. Normally this happens when heart muscles die due to lack of supply of oxygen secondary to the fat clogged blood vessels, which restrict blood flow.

Obesity is one of the major reasons that cause heart attacks. It raises blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels and triglycerides levels which lead to  formation of plaque in the arteries.

It also brings down the level of good cholesterol in the body. Good cholesterol prevents formation of plaque. Besides this, obesity causes an increase in blood pressure levels and also leads to diabetes and simultaneously increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

Preventing obesity

Consulting with an expert cardiologist NYC is essential to get the right guidance. After consultation, one must strictly follow all the guidelines suggested by the doctor. There are certain changes and activities that assist you in fulfilling your purpose of maintaining ideal weight:

1. Be active all the time

Making small changes in your daily routine will help you in reducing your weight. Use stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a morning and evening walk to burn more calories. Start exercising.

2. Eat healthy

Eat lots of vegetables and fruits and avoid eating junk and oily food items. Before you eat, check the labels of the food to see the number of calories per serving and saturated fats.

3. Keep track of your weight regularly

Monitor your weight regularly. Doing this will help you in determining how much extra flab you have reduced, and much more you need to shed.

Maintaining your heart’s health is important for healthy living. Take care of your eating habits and activities you carry out on a daily basis, to prevent heart issues.