Even small weight loss can help lower risk of heart disease: Expert

Cardiovascular disorders are the major causes of death in the nation. As indicated by surveys,there are about 86 lakh people in India who are affected by heart diseases. About 25% of the population in the age group of 25-69 years dies as a result of heart related disorders. As expected,the proportion of heart disease related deaths is higher in urban areas (nearly 32.8%) as compared to rural areas (22.9%).

What do you think is the reason behind the sudden spurt in the number of heart diseases in India?

According to WHO,people in India are prone to heart attacks six years earlier than people elsewhere. The figures are enough to set the alarm bells ringing.

Not many realise that morbid obesity is one of the main causes of this problem. When obesity is not addressed,it turns morbid as it increases the risk of obesity-related health conditions,one of which is heart disease. Obesity is known to impact blood pressure,cholesterol,triglycerides and diabetes leading to heart disease.

What are the prominent causes leading to heart ailments?

The risks are both genetic and environmental. Family history of heart disease may indicate a genetic predisposition to developing a heart problem,apart from that age and gender also play a role. Several studies over the years have established the link between lifestyle choices such as smoking,drinking and consuming excessively fatty foods to development of cardiovascular disorders.

In addition,conditions such as obesity and diabetes result in a change in the blood chemistry which further have a detrimental effect on the heart health.”

Why are obese people at a higher risk of facing a heart trouble?

The food consumed by a person greatly affects his/her blood chemistry. Obese individuals are known to have higher levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol in their blood,along with excessive consumption of food rich in transfats or saturated fats can also result in an increase in the cholesterol level. This fat can get deposited inside the arteries clogging them and disrupting the flow of blood. This leads to the development of a condition called arteriosclerosis which can further lead to heart failure or heart attacks by disrupting the flow of blood to the heart.

Clogging of arteries leading to the brain can also cause strokes. Due to the lack of proper blood flow,the heart has to pump harder to ensure sufficient oxygen rich blood supply to all body parts resulting in high blood pressure.

What are the prominent complications associated with the heart disease?

Some of the fallouts are:

Heart Attack : Coronary heart disease,where the arteries get clogged,interrupting the blood flow to the heart and this can result in damage to heart muscles. Depending on the age of the patient and other health conditions,a heart attack can often prove fatal.

Heart Failure : Over time the heart muscles become weaker or stiffer and the heart is no longer able to efficiently pump blood to all parts of the body. Such a situation is known as heart failure and can prove fatal.

Stroke : A stroke is a serious and potentially fatal situation that occurs when the arteries carrying blood to the brain get clogged and the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. What makes this especially dangerous is that the brain tissues begin to die within minutes of stopping the blood supply due to lack of oxygen.

Is every overweight person suffering from obesity?

Health professionals often use a measurement termed as body mass index (BMI) to determine if a person is overweight or obese. People who have a body mass index of 27.5 or higher and have experienced health problems may be at high risk much like the morbidly obese.

What kind of lifestyle changes or solutions can help prevent heart disease or lower its risk?

Taking a balanced diet,eating less salt,exercising regularly,avoiding stress,quitting smoking and of course keeping a watch on your weight are just some of the precautions one can take to avoid heart disease.” But if you have a body mass index of 27.5 or higher and have experienced health problems such as high cholesterol,raised blood sugar and high blood pressure etc then medical intervention would be required and going in for Bariatric surgery might be a wise option. This surgery has proven successful in treating patients with Type 2 Diabetes,high blood pressure and bringing these under control. It also reduces risk of other associated life threatening conditions,increases life span and significantly improves quality of life.”

What percentage of weight reduction lowers the risk of heart disease?

Tackling morbid obesity needs serious attention if one wants to steer clear of heart disease. Good news is that: even small weight loss (just 10 percent of the current weight),can help to lower a person’s risk of developing heart disease and other related conditions.