The month of February is designated as “American Heart Month.” Is it a coincidence this month includes Valentine’s Day, a day we express our love with family and loved ones? Or that the heart is the most common symbol of love? You can prevent heart disease and keep your heart healthy by learning more about the risk factors. This is truly one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones and for yourself.
One way you can improve your heart health significantly is by losing weight.
E. Dean Nukta, MD, medical director of interventional cardiology at Fairview Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital, explains how achieving even a small amount of weight loss helps your heart within a recent article, “How Losing Weight Changes Your Heart.
Please contact us if you have questions or want to learn more about our weight loss programs or Botox and Fillers:
- To reach our AZ Clinics, call 602-374-7226 (2 Clinics in Mesa and Phoenix)
- To reach our NM Clinics, call 505-888-9575 (3 Clinics in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe) or 575-222-4994 (Las Cruces)
- To reach our TX Clinic, call 214-296-0269 (Dallas)
- Or visit us online to schedule an appointment: http://fitmedicalweightloss.com/
Dr. Nukta suggests “starting small” as a manageable way to approach weight loss, especially for those who may need to lose a significant amount of weight overall. He goes on to say, “there is no doubt that just by losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, you can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke…"
Sounds good, don’t you think?
Losing 10 percent of your body weight contributes to a healthier heart in the following ways:
1) Lower Blood Pressure
Losing weight reduces the risk of clogged arteries, which causes heart attacks. As Dr. Nukta explains, “There is a direct relationship between a healthy weight and {healthy} blood pressure.” Blood pressure is the measurement of how efficiently your blood vessels are supplying your heart with the blood it needs to keep pumping – and to keep you alive.
2) More Stable Levels of Blood Fats
Weight loss also has positive effects on the triglyceride and cholesterol levels in your blood, which also contributes to a healthier heart.
3) Less Belly Fat
Studies show how people who are carrying extra fat around their middles may have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases than those with differently distributed weight. According to Jeanie Lerche Davis for WebMD:
Indeed, belly fat is a key indicator of "metabolic syndrome," a cluster of abnormalities that include high levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and triglycerides, as well as low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. This combination of risks has an impact on mortality from heart disease.
Losing weight, and particularly focusing on losing that belly fat, is crucial for improving your heart health.
For American Heart Month and this Valentine’s Day, celebrate by starting a weight loss plan and give yourself (and your loved ones) the gift of a healthier heart!
Please contact us if you have questions or want to learn more about our weight loss programs or Botox and Fillers:
Related Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) February Is American Heart Month: Are You at Risk for Heart Disease?
everyday Health How Losing Weight Changes Your Heart
WebMD The Risks of Belly Fat