Losing excess weight isn’t just about looking and feeling better (although that’s part of it!); losing weight is also one of the best things you can do for your heart health. Carrying extra weight puts strain on your cardiovascular system and increases your risk of heart disease.
The good news is that even modest weight loss — just 5%-10% — can significantly impact your heart.
In honor of American Heart Month, Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov, our board-certified general surgeon at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions, explains how weight loss supports heart health and how the team can help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Weight loss can help:
Excess weight can lead to high blood pressure in several ways:
While the link between being overweight and developing hypertension is clear, there is good news here. As you lose weight, the strain on your vascular system decreases, which, in turn, helps lower your blood pressure levels and protect your heart from damage.
And the even better part? You don’t need to get to your goal weight before you start to see improvements. The American Heart Association shows that even losing just 10 pounds can be beneficial. While you may need to lose more than that, it’s reassuring to know that progress can be made with just 10 pounds.
Weight loss doesn’t just improve your blood pressure levels. It can help with cholesterol management, too.
Weight loss often leads to better cholesterol balance by increasing your “good” HDL cholesterol and decreasing your “bad” LDL cholesterol. Because LDL cholesterol can contribute to blocked arteries (and increased risk of heart attack), losing weight and managing your cholesterol can help mitigate these risks.
Note that being overweight is just one risk factor for high cholesterol. To protect your heart, you should know your cholesterol levels regardless of your weight.
Carrying extra fat, particularly around your abdomen, can cause chronic inflammation. Inflammation can wreak havoc on your body, including your blood vessels and heart.
Shedding weight helps lower inflammation levels, which are observed by tracking inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-alpha, IL-6, and leptin.
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are closely linked. In fact, overweight and obese individuals are six times more likely to develop diabetes, and unfortunately, high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels and heart. People with diabetes have double the risk of developing heart disease.
Losing weight reduces the risk of developing diabetes, lowering your risk of related cardiovascular complications.
With less body mass to support, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard to circulate blood. This improved efficiency reduces wear and tear on your cardiovascular system over time.
Losing weight isn’t always easy — especially if you don’t know where to start. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or need additional support, our team is here to help. Dr. Botvinov can create a plan for you based on your body mass index (BMI), health history, and overall weight loss and wellness goals.
Here at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions, Dr. Botvinov offers several solutions to help you lose weight. This includes:
This February, make it a mission to protect your heart and make a plan to lose excess weight. To learn more about our services, call our Westwood, New Jersey, office at 201-778-5344 or schedule an appointment online.
