Have you ever wondered how extra pounds affect not only the appearance but also the most vital organ in the body? Obesity, often seen only as an aesthetic problem, actually throws a much deeper and more dangerous shadow over our cardiovascular health. I invite you to dive into this theme and unravel the mysteries that connect overweight to a heart in danger.
How obesity overloads your heart
Imagine your heart as a tireless athlete, running an endless marathon. In a healthy person, this marathon is already challenging. Now add to this image a heavy backpack on the back of the corridor – this is the reality of a heart in an obese body. With each beat, this brave muscle fights not only to keep it alive, but to carry an extra weight that never asked to bear.
Adipose tissue, far from being an inert calorie deposit, is actually a metabolically active organ. It secretes a variety of substances that directly affect the functioning of your cardiovascular system. These substances, known as adipocins, can turn your body into a silent battlefield, where inflammation and insulin resistance are the main weapons against your heart health.
As fat accumulates, especially around the waist (the dreaded visceral fat), it begins to involve vital organs like a suffocating blanket. This accumulation not only increases the volume of blood your heart needs to pump, but also compresses important blood vessels, raising blood pressure. It is as if your circulatory system is constantly fighting a high tide, with the arteries striving to maintain proper blood flow against increasing pressure.
Obesity waterfall effects on the heart
Obesity does not attack the heart alone; It triggers a chain reaction that affects multiple body systems. The pancreas, overloaded by constant insulin demand to process excess blood sugar, eventually begins to fail. This leads to insulin resistance and often to type 2 diabetes – a condition that in itself doubles the risk of heart disease.
Meanwhile, the liver, flooded with free fatty acids from excess adipose tissue, begins to produce more LDL cholesterol – the infamous “bad cholesterol”. These LDL particles, especially when oxidized, are like small time pumps circulating in their arteries. They accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, forming plates that narrow vital passages to blood flow. It is as if the main roads of their circulatory system are constantly in works, with traffic (their blood) struggling to pass by increasingly narrow roads.
Chronic inflammation, another insidious byproduct of obesity, acts as a slow fire, continually damaging the internal coating of its arteries. This damage makes the arteries more susceptible to the formation of clots and the rupture of plates – the direct precursors of heart attacks and strokes. It is as if its cardiovascular system is constantly on alert, with body defenses inadvertently causing more damage than protection.
Over time, this multifaceted assault charges its price. The cardiac muscle, forced to work beyond its ability, begins to thickening and hardening – a process called ventricular hypertrophy. Although this may seem positive adaptation initially, such as a muscle that grows with exercise, in reality, is a sign of danger. A hypertrophied heart is less efficient and more likely to failure.
The cardiac valves, essential for the unidirectional flow of blood, also suffer. Fat accumulation can lead to the greasy infiltration of these delicate structures, compromising their function. Imagine the valves as doors that should open and close perfectly with each beat – now they are slightly misaligned, allowing blood to return or escape where it should not.
Atrial fibrillation, a type of cardiac arrhythmia, becomes more common in obese people. The heart, instead of beating a strong and constant pace, begins to tremble irregularly. This not only reduces the efficiency of cardiac pumping, but also dramatically increases the risk of blood clot formation, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
The power of lifestyle change
Despite this dark scenario, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The human body has incredible healing and adaptation capacity. Studies show that even modest weight loss – only between 5 to 10% of body weight – can have deep effects on cardiovascular health. It is as if you are relieving the load of that marathon corridor, allowing it to breathe more easily and run more efficiently.
Each lost kilogram reduces the pressure on your heart. Blood pressure begins to normalize, cholesterol improves and inflammation decreases. Your body begins to use insulin more efficiently, reducing the risk of diabetes. It is as if you are detaching us on a complex network, allowing the whole system to work more smoothly.
In addition, changes in lifestyle that lead to weight loss – such as a balanced diet and regular exercises – have direct benefits to the heart, regardless of weight loss. Exercise strengthens the cardiac muscle, improves circulation and helps maintain the elasticity of the arteries. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains provides essential antioxidants and nutrients that protect your cardiovascular system.
However, we know that this path can be hard, leading many to give up in the middle of the route. Thus, to assist in this journey, we have witnessed a pharmacological revolution in the treatment of obesity, with the development of increasingly effective drugs in induction of weight loss.
The revolution of new medicines for obesity
At the center of this revolution are the new injecting medicines, which promise not only significant weight loss, but also comprehensive benefits for heart health. Among them, stand out the agonists of the GLP-1 receptor, such as Semaglutado and Liraglutide, and the latest innovation: Tirzepatida.
These drugs represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of obesity. Unlike traditional approaches, which often offered modest and temporary results, these new options are providing weight loss comparable to those obtained with bariatric surgery. Patients and doctors report reductions of 15% to 20% of total body weight, with some cases reaching an impressive 25%.
The effectiveness of these medications goes beyond simple weight loss. They act in a multifaceted manner in the body, offering direct cardiovascular benefits: significant reduction in blood pressure, improvement in cholesterol levels and decreased systemic inflammation. For patients with type 2 diabetes, glycemic control achieved is remarkable.
However, it is important to recognize that these advances do not come without challenges. Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are common, especially at the beginning of treatment. In addition, the high cost of these drugs is still a significant barrier to many patients.
CONCLUSION: A journey for heart health
The journey to a healthier heart is not a sprint, but a marathon. Each healthy choice, however small, is a step in this direction.
Your heart has never stopped fighting for you. Now it’s your turn to fight for him.
*Text written by clinical and interventionist cardiologist Rodrigo A. Souza (CRM 7926 | RQE 4130 /4137), member of Brazil Health
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This content was originally published in obesity overloading heart: Understand the consequences for health on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
I am an experienced journalist and writer with a career in the news industry. My focus is on covering Top News stories for World Stock Market, where I provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on markets around the world. I have expertise in writing both long-form articles and shorter pieces that deliver timely, relevant updates to readers.
