Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: What’s the Connection?

Written by: Muhammad Ans

‘Being obese puts you at a greater risk of multiple diseases’. We examined this statement before in relation to obesity. However, there has been speculation about diabetes and how it may make individuals more prone to developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This blog post will discuss the true connection between CVD and Diabetes.

Diabetes and heart disease usually go hand in hand. According to the CDC, if you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have a heart attack or a stroke compared to someone who does not have diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes, the higher their risk of developing CVD grows. CVD is an umbrella term for different diseases that may impact the heart. This term includes diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and blood vessel disease. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of CVD which impacts blood flow to the heart.

The impact of diabetes on heart disease is fairly simple yet physiologically complicated. Over time, high blood sugar, as is the case in diabetes can damage the blood vessels that surround your heart. In addition to this, diabetes leads to an increase in certain risk factors for heart disease. High blood pressure, excessive LDL cholesterol, and high triglycerides are all characteristics of diabetes and unfortunately, also risk factors for heart disease.

Although the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease may appear scary, it is possible to manage diabetes and with proper care, individuals can decrease their risk of developing heart disease. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, improving your diet, and seeking the appropriate medical care when necessary.

References:

CDC. (2022, June 20). Diabetes and your heart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-and-heart.html

Diabetes, heart disease, & stroke | niddk. (n.d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved 5 February 2023, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/heart-disease-stroke

The connection between diabetes and heart disease—Crf. (n.d.). Retrieved 5 February 2023, from https://www.crf.org/whhi/news/3748-the-connection-between-diabetes-and-heart-disease