The cardiovascular risk factors

THE OBESITY

- Definition, A few explanations
- The cardiovascular complications of obesity

THE CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY

Very numerous studies underline that obesity is responsible for the occurrence of many cardiovascular complications and that it decreases the life expectancy.

These cardiovascular complications are due to the effects of the obesity on the elements responsible for the development of the atheroma plates (atherosclerosis).

Indeed, obesity can entail an elevation of the cholesterol rate, glucose and uric acid, which are the three elements responsible for the development of the atherosclerosis.

The existence of a diabetes, very frequent, very often complicates the case.

The most frequent signs and cardiovascular illnesses are:

1 – Shortness of breath:

It is very frequent in case of obesity, especially during an effort.

2 - Cardiac insufficiency:

It occurs preferentially in the obese subject, on average two times more often than in the non obese subjects.

3 - Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction:

These illnesses are a lot more frequent than in the general population; they are due to the modifications of the rate of lipids in blood, and to the occurrence of a BP.

4 - Arterial attacks outside the heart:

The cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are two times more frequent in the obese whereas the occurrence of an arteritis of the lower members is not increased by the obesity.

5 – HBP:

Its frequency is higher in the obese and increases with the weight, whatever age and sex.

The occurrence of a HBP in an obese subject indicates an important increase of his cardiovascular risk.

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File last reviewed on dec 18, 2011