Health Risks of Being Overweight & Obesity | How to lose weight fast Health Risks of Being Overweight | Page 8

Heart Disease
Heart disease is a term used to describe several problems that may affect your heart. The
most common type of problem happens when a blood vessel that carries blood to the
heart becomes hard and narrow. This may keep the heart from getting all the blood it
needs. Other problems may affect how well the heart pumps. If you have heart disease,
you may suffer from a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina (chest
pain), or abnormal heart rhythm. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United
States.
How is heart disease linked to overweight?
People who are overweight or obese often have health problems that may increase the
risk for heart disease. These health problems include high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, and high blood sugar. In addition, excess weight may cause changes to your
heart that make it work harder to send blood to all the cells in your body.
How can weight loss help?
Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight may lower your chances of developing heart
disease. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing as little as 10 pounds. Weight loss
may improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood flow.
Stroke
A stroke happens when the flow of blood to a part of your brain stops, causing brain cells
to die. The most common type of stroke, called ischemic stroke, occurs when a blood clot
blocks an artery that carries blood to the brain. Another type of stroke, called hemorrhagic
stroke, happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
How are strokes linked to overweight?
Overweight and obesity are known to increase blood pressure. High blood pressure is the
leading cause of strokes. Excess weight also increases your chances of developing other
problems linked to strokes, including high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and heart
disease.