Can losing weight improve my heart health? Yes, yes, and yes is the answer. Hearing mantras about keeping a healthy weight tell you immediately that your weight affects your health in general and that of your heart both positively and negatively. In fact, how you lose weight and how fast you lose it can affect your heart health as well.
Your Health Risks
The more you weigh and the more body fat you have, the more likely you are to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, breathing issues, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
If your waist circumference is 35+ inches for a woman and 40+ for a male, this increases the risk. A healthy body mass index or BMI for adult men and women is between 18.5 and 24.9. Overweight is between 25 and 29.9. Obese is 30 and over.
You can calculate your BMI body mass index here.
Your Weight and Heart Failure
The pounds themselves can cause heart muscle damage. Heart failure occurs when the organ cannot keep up with the demand, and the obesity epidemic is likely a contributor.
It is relatively a new revelation that obesity itself can lead to heart failure even with no other markers for heart disease. Obesity alone can be causing “silent damage” to your heart muscle.
Positive Benefits of Losing Weight and Your Heart Health
It is clear to those adults who have lost weight that they have more energy, find that they can exercise longer, and feel generally happier.
Other benefits include the following:
- Your blood pressure will be reduced because your heart will not have to work as hard with less weight to carry around.
- Your cholesterol level will be reduced with weight loss. If you stop eating unhealthy foods like sweets, carbs, and processed meats, it can lower your cholesterol and keep your heart healthy.
- Losing weight will help lower blood sugar levels and decrease the chance of diabetes making it easier to avoid other heart issues like heart attacks and a stroke.
Be Sensible About Weight Loss
Trying to lose weight too quickly with the latest “diet fad” is dangerous. You may not get the needed nutrition we all need, and it can also lead to an irregular heartbeat and other conditions that damage your heart.
As for exercise, don’t try to do too much too soon. Work with New Jersey Cardiology Associates to manage an exercise regimen.
Aim for a sensible diet with moderate exercise and the pounds will come off.
Contact New Jersey Cardiology Associates for ideas on how to lose weight safely and improve heart health.