Cardiovascular diseases are heart conditions caused by an obstruction of normal blood flow to the heart either through narrowed or blocked blood vessels. Some heart conditions include:

• Heart Attacks
• Strokes
• Heart Failure
• Arrhythmia
• Cardiac Arrest

Patients suffering from obesity have a large amount of fat cells in their bloodstream. This excess fat causes build up over time that clogs major arteries and vessels that allow blood flow to vital organs – including the heart.

If left untreated, cardiovascular diseases can have significant life-threatening effects. Some obesity-related heart conditions include:

• Heart Failure: A fatal condition that stops the heart from pumping blood to the rest of the body
• Heart Attack: A blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart, damaging the heart muscle.
• Stroke: Artery blockage that keeps the body from pumping enough blood to the brain.
• Aneurysm: Arterial-wall swelling that causes fatal internal bleeding.
• Peripheral Artery Disease: Insufficient blood flow to the limbs.
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A sudden loss of heart function, breath and consciousness – often fatal if not treated immediately.

Cardiovascular conditions can be reduced by following rigorous lifestyle changes. Methods include:

• Weight loss through frequent exercise and dieting.
• The consumption of doctor-administered weight loss medication to help adjust the body’s metabolic process in digesting food.
• A reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption and smoking.
• Bariatric surgery to get rid of the body’s fat stores.