Obesity, Diabetes & Heart Disease – What’s The Link?
Obesity can increase the risks of developing various potential health risks. It’s linked to diabetes and high blood pressure. Medical experts believe that people who are obese have three times greater risks of a heart attack than those with a healthy weight. So, maintaining a healthy weight is necessary.
Also Read – What Are Symptoms, Causes & Treatments For Type-2 Diabetes
Before you visit the best online doctors for obesity treatment, it’s important to learn what causes obesity, its relationship with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, we are also going to discuss some expert tips to lose those extra pounds fast.
What’s Obesity?
Obesity is a condition characterized by accumulating extra body fat, which can cause various health issues. Many confuse it with overweight, but it’s different. However, when you are overweight, the extra weight may be due to body water, muscle, bone, fat, etc.
For calculating the ideal weight according to the height, medical experts use the BMI (body mass index) calculator. People with a BMI value of more than 30 are considered obese.
Major Causes of Obesity
Lack of Physical Activity
Sedentary people burn fewer calories as compared to active individuals. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, there’s a link between physical inactivity and weight gain.
Overeating
Eating too much can lead to weight gain. Medical experts believe that foods rich in sugar and fat such as fried and fast foods can contribute to obesity.
Certain Medications
Some antidepressants, anticonvulsants, diabetes, and high blood pressure medications can cause weight gain. So, it’s good to talk to the best online doctors before taking these medications.
Psychological Factors
Emotions and feelings can impact your eating habits, thus causing obesity. Many eat excessively due to stress, boredom, anger, etc.
Age
Reduced physical activity, lack of control on calorie intake, and hormonal changes associated with age can increase the risks of weight gain.
Obesity & Type-2 Diabetes
People who are obese have high risks of developing type-2 diabetes. It’s a condition in which the body doesn’t use insulin properly, and the patients often have high blood sugar levels.
In obese people, fat tissue cells process more nutrients than their capacity. The stress in these cells can lead to inflammation, thus releasing cytokines. Cytokines block the insulin receptors, thus making the cells resistant to insulin.
With the help of insulin, the cells convert glucose into energy. However, without insulin, the body can’t convert glucose into energy. This way, glucose levels increase, thus causing type-2 diabetes.
Diabetes & Heart Disease
People with diabetes have higher risks of experiencing severe heart disease, such as—heart failure, coronary heart disease, and heart muscle disorder.
Patients with coronary heart disease have fatty acid substances that build up in their coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. The narrowing of arteries can reduce the blood supply.
And, these fatty deposits may increase the risks of the creation of blood clots, thus blocking the arteries partially or completely over time. So, it can lead to a heart attack.
Moreover, coronary heart disease can cause irregular heartbeat, heart failure due to weakening of heart muscles, and chest pain.
On the other hand, heart muscle disorder is characterized by damaging the function of the heart. In patients with diabetes, this condition can lead to irregular heartbeat and heart failure.
If you experience heart problems, it’s necessary to talk to a licensed doctor to seek professional help.
Major Reasons Why Diabetes Patients Develop Cardiovascular Disease
Diabetes can lead to heart disease, even if the glucose levels are not too high. Why? Here are the major reasons-
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the major risks associated with heart disease. Medical studies have found that there’s a link between insulin resistance and high blood pressure. Diabetes and hypertension double the risks of cardiovascular disease.
Physical Inactivity
Lack of physical activity is another major risk factor of insulin resistance and heart disease. So, regular exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and hypertension. Moderate intensity aerobic workouts (such as gardening, household work, and sports) can provide great results.
According to the American Heart Association, for boosting overall cardiovascular health, at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week and moderate-to-high-intensity muscle-strengthening exercises for at least 2 days a week are necessary.
Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels
Diabetes patients often have high LDL, low HDL, and high triglycerides, which can lead to atherogenic dyslipidemia linked to insulin resistance.
Smoking
Smoking isn’t good for heart health. Actually, it tightens the arteries, thus making the heart work harder to pump the blood. Additionally, smoking can lead to irregular heart rhythm, and increase blood pressure, thus causing a heart stroke.
Lifestyle Fixes For Obesity, Diabetes & Heart Disease
Exercise Regularly
It will help you stay active and also burn extra fat stored in your body. Moreover, regular exercise increases the blood flow in different parts of the body. Research says that it’s effective in managing psychological conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, etc.
Eat a Healthy Diet
What you eat has a direct impact on your health. So, you should avoid eating unhealthy foods from today. Work with a professional dietician to design a perfect diet plan.
Also Read- 7 Foods to Help you Lose Weight
Manage Stress
Stress eating can lead to weight gain. So, managing this condition can help you promote wellness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is effective psychotherapy, which is based on changing the thinking processes, thus controlling negative thoughts, boredom, anger, etc.
Limit Screen Time
Watching television can help you increase knowledge, but it’s a sedentary activity. Additionally, it promotes unhealthy eating, which can lead to weight gain. So, it’s necessary to reduce or curb your daily screen time. For adults, it’s recommended to keep television/screen media device time to less than 2 hours a day.
When to Talk to a Professional Doctor
Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are interlinked. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you can easily reduce the risks of these conditions. But, if you are getting difficulty in managing the health issues, talk a licensed doctor to seek professional advice.
Using telemedicine, you can talk to the best doctors online. So, you need not leave your home to get medical support. Here’s the complete process-
- Sign up an account
- Talk to a doctor online
- Receive your PDF prescription letter via email
Key Takeaways
Obesity is a serious medical condition, which can increase the risks of type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. People with a BMI value of over 30 are considered obese.
For managing obesity, lifestyle habits can help. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, manage stress levels, and limit screen time.
For medical advice for managing obesity, hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, talk to the best doctors online today.