February is American Heart Month: a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. The risk of cardiovascular disease is increased for people with severe obesity. Obesity can cause structural changes in the heart including excess heart muscle and ventricle inflammation that can lead to heart failure.It is no secret that weight loss reduces cardiovascular risks, but a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that bariatric surgery can also help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Researchers found that gastric bypass surgery can lead to a “remodeling” of the heart as well as significant weight loss. The study compared a group of more than 400 severely obese people with gastric bypass surgery to a group of 300 severely obese people who did not have surgery.
Two years later, echocardiograms showed a reduction in left ventricular mass and right ventricular cavity area among the surgical patients. The improved cardiac function and appearance suggests less stress on the heart and reduced overall cardiovascular risk.
For more information on how bariatric surgery can reduce your cardiovascular risk, please contact the Penn Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery team at 800.789.PENN.
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