Obesity and Heart Disease Connection
According to the American Heart Association, obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.
Obesity is simply defined as having too much body fat. A body is made of water, fat, protein, carbohydrate and various vitamins and minerals. If there is too much fat, especially in your waist area, you are at higher risk for health problems.
Some reasons for this higher risk of heart disease are scientifically known, but others are not. For example, obesity
* Raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
* Lowers HDL or “good” cholesterol. Higher levels of HDL are inked with lower heart disease and stroke risk.
* Raises blood pressure levels.
* Can lead to diabetes. In some people, diabetes makes these other risk factors much worse. The danger of heart attack is especially high for those who suffer from diabetes.
Even when there are no adverse effects on the known risk factors, obesity by itself increases risk of heart disease. It also harms more than just the heart and blood vessel system. It’s a major cause of gallstones and can worsen degenerative joint disease.
