Multiple studies have shown that heart failure can be caused by obesity. Obesity has been shown to produce negative changes in the structure of the heart. Fatty infiltration and inflammation are common in the hearts of obese people.
Changes in the heart due to obesity
The normal heart is surrounded by a thin layer of fat, which is thicker in obese people. This increase in fat around the heart promotes inflammatory response and lipid infiltration into the heart wall.
The deposition of fat in the heart and other organs promotes the release of inflammatory substances, which have local effects on the affected organ itself and on the entire organism. In the heart, these inflammatory substances can affect the pericardium, myocardium and blood vessels.
Abnormalities such as atrial dilation, left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, right ventricular dilation and dysfunction, and restricted pericardial distension are frequently present in the heart of obese individuals. All of these lead to the onset of symptoms of heart failure.
On the other hand, obesity is a risk factor for arterial disease. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find coronary lesions in obese people. These lesions can obstruct blood flow to the myocardium and contribute to the appearance or worsening of heart failure.
Finally, obesity is associated with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are also cardiovascular risk factors and can cause coronary lesions and heart failure.
Symptoms of heart failure
It is common for obese people to report fatigue and shortness of breath. Obese people have greater limitations when it comes to physical exercise. This may be due to the burden of greater body weight and the restriction of breathing due to obesity in the chest and abdomen.
However, obesity is associated with a generalized inflammatory state and changes in the structure and function of the heart. Therefore, fatigue and shortness of breath may also be due to heart failure.
Another common symptom in obese people is leg edema. It is not uncommon for obese people to report swelling of their ankles and even their entire leg. This may be secondary to venous insufficiency in the lower limbs, which is frequently suffered by obese people. However, leg edema can also be caused by heart failure.
Treatment
As mentioned, obesity can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, arterial disease and heart failure. It can also lead to sleep apnea and respiratory failure. All of this makes the prognosis for obese people worse than for non-obese people. Therefore, it is necessary for obese people to realize that obesity is not just an aesthetic problem, but is a major health problem that requires treatment.
The treatment of heart failure due to obesity should be based on weight loss. The most important thing is to lose weight. A low-calorie diet is necessary. Salt consumption should also be restricted. Food should be mainly of plant origin, avoiding saturated fats.
If weight loss is significant, it may be sufficient to control heart failure and the other disorders mentioned above. However, many obese people are unable to lose weight with diet. In these cases, it is possible to achieve good results with medication or bariatric surgery.
