Does our weight affect our heart?

Let Heart Health Awareness Month be a good time to evaluate your diet and exercise lifestyle

Sure, we all want to fit into smaller clothing sizes and have more energy, but maintaining a healthy weight goes far beyond that. By shedding some pounds and sustaining a healthy weight, you also are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, among many other chronic health conditions.

Excessive weight can have direct and indirect effects on our heart’s health. As we gain weight, fat deposits develop throughout the body, and it’s natural to form fat deposits around the heart as well. That can irritate the heart, leading to heart rhythm issues and fatty deposits within the blood vessels, which leads to atherosclerosis or coronary disease, says Dr. Michael Babcock, cardiologist with St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network – Cardiology Associates. Eventually, those plaques can lead to heart blockages or unstable plaque that can cause heart attacks.

Being overweight and obese also can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol issues and oftentimes sleep apnea, Dr. Babcock adds.

“Each one of those independently is a tremendous risk factor for heart disease or blood vessel disease,” says Dr. Babcock, who treats patients at The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s/Candler. “Obesity in itself may not be the one thing that contributes to cardiovascular problems but it is a catalyst for other medical issues that can cause a more rapid progression into unstable cardiovascular disease state.”

It sounds like common sense that the more we weigh the more strain it puts on our body and heart, but unfortunately a lot of people don’t realize it until they develop problems. For many people, it’s hard to lose weight.

“There’s no one magic bullet for losing weight,” Dr. Babcock says. “You can’t just go run a marathon; you can’t just go on a crash or fad diet. It’s a little bit of both.”

Take it one step at a time and set realistic goals, Dr. Babcock advises. Start by reducing your calorie count by 10 percent and increasing your exercise by 10 to 20 percent. After a few weeks, reduce your calories another 10 or 20 percent and increase the amount of time you exercise.

There are little things you can do to achieve your goals. Park further away at work or the grocery store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Opt for a fresh salad or fresh vegetables instead of the French fries.

Dr. Babcock says it’s also important to be your own advocate. Yes, your primary care doctors and cardiologists have your best health interests literally at heart, but you should too. Keep up with your own blood pressure; track your weight; monitor your blood sugar levels. “Be actively involved in your healthcare and actively involved in your diet and exercise,” Dr. Babcock says.

“We want people to be successful,” Dr. Babcock says. “If you’re active, it’s easier to stay active. ’A body at rest stays at rest.’ And we want people to be active.”

Coming Thursday: Learn more about why exercise is so important to our heart’s health and get some tips on how to get moving.