Why does obesity increase a persons chance of a heart attack?

Question

goes along with hypertension, as well.

Answer 1

Obesity is associated with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Answer 2

Obesity is a complex medical problem. Usually it is the behaviors that made one obese puts them at risk for numerous health problems. Those who are obese usually have a poor diet high in fats and starches, and lack physical excercise. This causes them to gain weight. The added fat on the body has a blood supply. Extra strain is put on the heart as it works to circulate the blood and oxygenate the cells. This can cause a raise in blood pressure, which in turn puts more strain on the cardiovascular system. The diet high in fat and starches can charge the microanatomy of the blood vessels, cause plaque or fatty blockages in the cardiac vessels and elsewhere, like the circulation in the brain. People who are obese can also have altered body chemistry, and be at risk for something called Metabolic Syndrome,which includes high circulating insulin levels, increasing blood sugars, and rising lipoproteins and triglycerides.

Answer 3

It's because obesity is due to increase intake of LDLs (ie. saturated fats, trans fats) and less of HDLs (unsaturated fats). LDLs are basically fats that stick inside your arteries while HDLs are the fats that remove the LDLs from your heart. Since LDLs outweigh HDLs, more and more fat will build up in the heart therefore narrowing the blood passageway. The gunk turns into plaque and hardens your arteries (Atherosclerosis). If something (like a blood clot) comes along, then there's your heart attack =P

Obviously to reduce the chances of a heart attack, an overweight or obese individual must choose a healthier selection of food. You want to outweigh your intake of HDLs than LDLs. You find HDLs in foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains (you can even increase it through exercise). You find LDLs in unhealthy foods such as animal products, bakery products (a big one with trans fats) etc.

*HDL stands for high density lipids, LDL stands for low density lipids

Answer 4

Actually, current medical models (theories) are that both of these conditions are inflammatory diseases. Obesity is associated with dramatic increases in inflammatory mediators in the blood. These inflammatory mediators are also associated with dramatically increasing the risk for an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Simply: Obesity => Inflammation => cardiovascular disease and heart attacks

Hope you find this helpful. Best wishes.

Answer 5

Excess weight increase the work load on the heart, eventually causing it to fail.

Answer 6

Fat deposits not only around the waist, but inside arteries as well.

To reverse this, eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.