coronary heart disease
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease. If you're
overweight or obese, you're more likely to develop
high blood pressure and high cholesterol–the
most common risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Simply carrying extra body fat–especially around your waist–can lead to
inflammation, which in turn can raise your risk of heart disease.
If you have coronary heart disease, your heart and your circulation no longer
work as well as they should, and your arteries may have hardened and become
narrower. Coronary heart disease can lead to:
- angina (chest pain)
- abnormal heart rhythm
- heart attack
- congestive heart failure
- sudden cardiac death
Coronary heart disease is a serious health challenge–it's the number one
cause of death in the U.S.–but you can take action to prevent it or manage it.
According to the National Institutes of Health, reducing your weight by just 5
to 10 percent can substantially lower your risk of developing heart disease. The
most important steps to take include:
- Working with your doctor to take stock of your condition, including
contributing factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Getting the help you need to make a weight loss plan
- If you smoke, quitting
- Eating healthier foods
- Reducing your weight by at least 5 to 10 percent
- Managing your weight
- Becoming more active
- Tracking your progress
- Working with your doctor to see if medication is an option
...and you can do it! Remember, you're not alone. You can get the help you
need–and you have the example of many others who have faced similar challenges
and learned to manage their weight and live healthier lives.
ready?