Why do obese people need to be screened for coronary heart disease?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Tung Hoanh - Interventional Cardiologist - Department of Resuscitation - Emergency - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital. The doctor has a lot of experience and strength in Resuscitation - Cardiac Emergency. circuit.
Obesity increases the risk of coronary heart disease in young people. People with overweight and obesity should have a cardiovascular examination and screening for coronary heart disease early to determine the risk of disease and timely treatment.

1. The relationship between obesity and coronary heart disease

In recent times, people's living standards have been improved, and the shortage of nutritional resources has decreased. In contrast, the number of overweight and obese people tends to increase, mainly in big cities.
Obesity and heart disease are related. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a variety of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, kidney stones, bone and joint diseases, even cancer.
The risk of coronary heart disease caused by obesity is 4 times higher than that of people of normal weight. At the same time, obesity also increases the risk of stroke by 6 times, the risk of high blood pressure up to 12 times, the risk of diabetes by 6 times compared to those with a healthy BMI.
There are 2 types of obesity. The first form of obesity, excess fat is usually concentrated in the abdomen and is more common in men (this case is often called "beer belly" or apple shaped body). The second form of obesity, the body has increased fat accumulation in the buttocks and thighs, common in women (pear-shaped). The risk of cardiovascular disease increases mainly for people with abdominal obesity, especially coronary heart disease and stroke.
If you are a man, to prevent cardiovascular disease due to obesity, it is best not to let the waist size exceed 90% of the buttocks. If you are a woman, keep this number below 80%.

2. Health effects of obesity

High blood pressure: Obese people with high cholesterol are more likely to experience high blood pressure as well as complications related to blood vessels.
Heart diseases: Fat around the heart is a common condition in patients with severe obesity, making it difficult for the heart to contract. In addition, fat also clogs coronary arteries, obstructs blood transport to the heart, causes myocardial infarction, which is very dangerous to life.
Dyslipidemia: Obese patients often have increased levels of triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol, and decreased levels of HDL-cholesterol in the blood. Dyslipidemia has adverse health effects, especially when combined with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Increased risk of stroke: The risk of stroke in obese people is also many times higher than in the general population. People with BMI higher than 30 are more likely to have a high risk of death from cerebrovascular accident and atherosclerosis. On the other hand, people who are overweight must also be cautious, if there are other risk factors (such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia), the risk of stroke can still be increased. higher.
Easy to get diabetes: One of the diseases that is considered a consequence of obesity is diabetes. The amount of insulin (which lowers blood sugar) in obese people is often lower than in normal people and that is why most people with diabetes are obese.
Digestive tract diseases: Obese people are prone to digestive system diseases such as gallbladder disease, impaired liver function, fatty liver, fatty intestines, decreased intestinal motility (causes flatulence, applesauce). constipation), obstructing the vascular system in the intestine, the risk of hemorrhoids. In summary, for obese patients, gastrointestinal function is often significantly reduced.
Risk of osteoarthritis: In obese people, the skeleton is always under excessive pressure due to having to lift too much weight of the body, easily leading to osteoarthritis pain and reduced bone quality. The amount of uric acid in obese people is also high, easily causing gout.
Of the harmful effects of obesity on health, the most dangerous is still cardiovascular problems, especially coronary heart disease. Therefore, people with obesity should have a cardiovascular examination and check for coronary heart disease early to avoid dangerous complications.

3. Doctor's advice

Despite its dangerous effects on the cardiovascular system, obesity is a completely modifiable risk factor. Therefore, patients should change their lifestyle, have a reasonable working regime, eat well and exercise regularly to avoid excess body energy and limit obesity. At the same time, this is also an important measure to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, especially in the elderly. Specifically, patients should follow the following advice:
Maintain a healthy weight; Use vegetable oils (containing unsaturated fatty acids - healthy fats); Add fruits, nuts, and vegetables (which are a source of fiber and antioxidants); Limit sugar (avoid sweets and soft drinks); Do not eat salty foods (reduce high blood pressure); Quit smoking, quit drinking (also risk factors for coronary heart disease); Exercise regularly every day.

4. Obese people need to be examined for heart disease and screened for coronary heart disease

Currently, more and more people are suffering from ischemic heart disease, coronary heart disease at a very young age, mainly due to an unhealthy lifestyle: Diet high in sugar, high in fat, smoking, smoking, etc. stress, inactivity,... These bad habits increase fat accumulation, form atherosclerotic plaques, hinder blood circulation, causing coronary heart disease.
Coronary artery disease is often silent and manifests as transient symptoms. However, in the long term, coronary artery disease is at risk of leading to many dangerous cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and even death if not detected early and taken measures to treat. suitable treatment.
The Coronary Cardiovascular Disease Screening Package being deployed by Vinmec International General Hospital is the best choice for effective coronary artery disease screening. The package is intended for subjects at high risk of coronary heart disease and especially the elderly who need early prevention due to age factors.
As one of the leading spearhead centers of Vinmec International General Hospital, the team of Cardiology specialists are experienced and reputable Professors, Doctors, Specialist 2 and Master doctors. great reputation in the field of medical treatment, surgery, interventional cardiac catheterization; application of advanced techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In particular, the Center has modern equipment, on par with the most prestigious hospitals in the world.
The Center has a comprehensive cooperation program with the Heart Institute - Bach Mai Hospital, the Cardiology Department of Hanoi Medical University, Paris Decartes University - Georges Pompidou Hospital (France), the University of Pennsylvania (USA) )...

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