Abacoa & Alton Neighbors - March 2023

8 Abacoa &Alton N E I G H B O R S | M a r c h 2 0 2 3 The link between heart disease and obesity is multifaceted. Overweight and obesity are complex, chronic and relapsing diseases causing an estimated 3.4M deaths per year. Currently, more than 73% of US adults have overweight or obesity. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of death and includes conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. In the US, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), someone dies from CVD every 38 seconds. Around 18.2 million adults age 20 and older have CVD and, 1 in 5 heart attacks is silent, meaning the person is unaware of it. Obesity increases the risk for developing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which are also risk factors for heart disease. • Obesity is the 2nd leading cause of preventable death, after smoking • Obesity is an independent risk factor for CVD • 2M adults aged 20 and older have CVD • 1 in 5 heart attacks is silent • Moderate weight loss of 5-10% improves obesity- related risk factors for CVD Obesity is categorized by body mass index (BMI), which is a ratio between height and weight. A BMI between 25-29.9 defines overweight and a BMI greater than 30 defines obesity. Understand however that BMI, although a quick easy categorization tool we can all use, does not consider body composition, waist circumference, metabolic laboratory analysis nor presence of obesity-related co- morbidities. Its solo use to define the disease of obesity is clinically incomplete. Modifiable Risk Factors for CVD: *Overweight and Obesity *Diabetes *Smoking *High blood pressure *Abnormal cholesterol *Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity Non-Modifiable Risk Factors for CVD: **Age **Gender **Family history Obesity is an independent risk factor for CVD and can negatively affect function, structure, and blood vessels. Obesity also triggers inflammatory processes that can harm the cardiovascular system and lead to structural and/or functional changes of the heart. Overweight also increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of heart-disease risk factors that include hypertension, high levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL (the “good” cholesterol), high blood sugar and a large waist circumference (greater than 35 inches in EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR OBESITY: Silent Risk for Heart Disease? By Florencia Ziemke, MD dABOM Evexia Medical Lose weight, Gain Health EVEXIAMED.COM Doctor designed and operated 561.621.1096 Weight loss. Optimal Health. Personalized Plan. Your Journey Begins Here! Schedule Your Initial Health Assessment Today