Plenty of people suffering from obesity are looking for quick, long-lasting weight loss solutions. Luckily, bariatric surgery has been shown to significantly reduce cardiovascular risk factors. While undergoing bariatric surgery can be an arduous decision to treat your obesity, it may very well be the best solution available. As patients and their doctors weigh the risks and side effects of the procedure against the benefits of the weight loss that occurs immediately and even afterward, it’s up there with one of the best, fast choices to shed your excess weight.
If you are already diagnosed with heart disease then you are likely aware that this condition adds another factor to your risk-benefit analysis. If you’re wondering whether the surgery is a good idea for you, then you’ll like the answer.
Link Between Obesity and Heart Disease
Obesity and being overweight are risk factors for many different kinds of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, heart attack, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Severe heart disease can lead to heart failure, a condition where your heart is unable to pump blood well, and the result is that your body is deprived of oxygen-rich blood.
The excess weight forces the heart to work harder than normal in order to supply enough blood throughout your body. Over time, the extra workload damages your heart and related structures, including your arteries, veins, and ventricles. The strain on your heart also harms other key functions of your heart.
While obesity may not have given you any symptoms of heart failure, obesity is typically regarded as the hallmark of early-stage heart failure.
Consider Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an effective tool against obesity and type 2 diabetes. It may be an option for you if your obese, have diabetes and have been unable to lose weight via exercise, diet or other weight loss medications.
For optimal results, besides opting for bariatric surgery to treat your type 2 diabetes or other life-threatening illnesses, you’ll need to follow a lifelong maintenance of diet, exercise, and regular healthcare visits.
Losing an excessive amount of weight takes courage, discipline, and commitment but you’re not alone. NOVA Bariatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery understands your goals in treating weight loss and obesity and is with you throughout your entire weight loss journey. Dr. Alibhai and the team at NOVA Bariatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery have the experience, expertise, and state-of-the-art equipment to help you find the best, robotic and non-invasive solution to reduce your weight and restore your health.New research published by the American Heart Association journal Circulation suggests that bariatric surgery is a good decision. A study in Canada demonstrated that participants with cardiovascular disease and severe obesity (a body mass index of 40 or higher) who underwent bariatric surgery had fewer major cardiovascular events than people with similar conditions who did not have the surgery. Fewer of the patients who had the surgery died compared with their counterparts who did not have the surgery.
Because obesity is a significant risk factor for heart failure, weight loss can be an effective way to help prevent this life-threatening condition. Bariatric surgery typically is not the initial choice for losing weight but it is a great choice if you find that exercise and diet alone are not doing much good in the weight loss department. Yet, when other methods (such as decreasing calories and increasing physical activity) fail to work, bariatric surgery is an ideal option to lose weight quickly and keep it off.
How Weight Loss Surgery Effects Heart Failure
Research bears out the potential effectiveness of bariatric procedures for treating heart failure and the conditions that contribute to it. For example, a 2020 study of nearly 40,000 people showed that those with obesity who both underwent bariatric surgery and made lifestyle adjustments such as dieting and exercise were considerably less likely to develop heart failure than those who made lifestyle changes alone.
The researchers concluded the impressive effectiveness of bariatric surgery for preventing heart failure was related to the procedure’s known effects on reducing risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation.
Likewise, a 2016 study found that weight loss accomplished with bariatric surgery reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients being treated for severe obesity more effectively than those who made lifestyle efforts alone. Interestingly, this risk-reduction effect was largest in younger patients and in patients with higher blood pressures.
So far, most research studies have shown the effectiveness of weight-loss surgery for preventing heart disease. Another large study published in 2020 showed a 40% reduction in risk of death and heart complications in patients with Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Most obese individuals are drawn to bariatric surgery due to the impressive amount of weight loss achieved in a short amount of time. Still another study showed that one year after surgery patients lost an average of 41 pounds more than those who only embraced lifestyle changes.
Why NOVA Bariatrics?
Over time, obesity along with diabetes will cause a breakdown in your body’s systems. This can lead to a deterioration in your health and significantly decrease your life expectancy. Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery is a powerful tool that lets us reverse and prevent you from contracting life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease and many others associated with extreme obesity.
Dr. Mustafa H. Alibhai, MD, FACS, FASMBS is expertly trained in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He performs a wide range of weight loss and bariatric surgeries. Dr. Alibhai and the surgical team at NOVA Bariatrics understand your weight loss goals and will recommend weight loss options to treat your obesity. Together, their combined experience and expertise goes a long way to help those who have been unable to achieve significant weight loss through dieting and exercise alone.
