One must take necessary precautions to curb obesity. This will help ease pressure on the heart.
Did you know? Being obese puts you at risk of coronary heart disease
A WHO fact sheet released in 2012, titled ‘The Top 10 Causes of Death’, listed cardiovascular diseases as the number one killer worldwide. Under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease or CHD, is one of the conditions that is also caused due to obesity.
This World Obesity Day, we tell you how the two are interrelated and what you can do to keep both at bay with Dr. Santosh Kumar Agarwal, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Kailash Hospital & Heart Institute, Noida.
According to Dr. Santosh, “With the rising Body Mass Index or BMI of Indians, especially the urban youth, the incidence of premature heart disease also continues to increase which includes coronary heart disease (CHD). Obesity is definitely a risk factor for CHD.”
He adds, “According to the World Heart Federation, 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischemic heart disease cases are attributable to a BMI above 21. Heart disease is the primary reason for death across both genders and claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined.”
UNDERSTANDING CHD
Coronary heart disease is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries which supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. The plaque blocks the flow of this oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle by settling in, and thereby narrowing, the coronary arteries. This process of plaque formation is called atherosclerosis. Eventually, these blockages trigger heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrests.
4 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT OBESITY AND CHD
One must take necessary precautions to curb obesity. This will help ease pressure on the heart. Dr. Santosh lists four ways to do both-
Avoid foods containing high levels of saturated or trans fats: Chips and packaged food must be avoided at all costs. These products considerably increase the cholesterol levels.
Limit solid fats: One must reduce the amount of solid fats like butter and ghee etc. while cooking. Instead, it is important to promote the use of refined or olive oil or flavouring your dishes with herbs or lemon juice.
Check the food labels: One must check food labels on any and every packaged product. Many products bluff their customers by putting labels such as “fat-free” or “cholesterol-free” on the packaging. However, in reality the preservatives used to protect the food item is high on sodium and causes water retention. Most of these products have hidden fats and are high on ingredients that are unhealthy for the heart. Opt for natural foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Exercise: At least 30 minutes of brisk walking and aerobic exercises on most days of the week will help you keep obesity at bay and maintain a healthy heart.
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