Obesity Is Strongly Correlated To Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US today. Coronary heart disease involves a closing off of the blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart. This narrowing of the blood vessels is mainly caused from plaque building up on the walls of the vessels. This is often referred to as atherosclerosis. Fatty materials and other substances make up this plaque that forms. This can severely restrict or even stop the flow of blood to the heart.

There may or may not be symptoms with heart disease. The first symptom may be a heart attack which can result in death. The most common symptom associated with coronary heart disease is chest pain. This pain usually occurs when there is a lack of oxygen to the heart. The degree of pain felt varies depending on the individual and his or her condition. Many people experiencing these symptoms have described it as a squeezing pain that feels like their heart is being squeezed. The pain most often occurs under the breast bone, but may occur in other areas such as the arm or neck.

There is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease. The more overweight your body is, the more chance you have of developing heart disease, according to many studies. If your body is in a healthy range, it is more likely that your body can effectively manage blood circulation and fluid levels to take care of the heart.

The gold standard for measuring obesity is calculating BMI or body mass index and measuring waist size. Men should have a waist size of 40 inches or less to remain healthy. BMI is measured by comparing a person's weight with their height to determine the amount of body fat. Obesity is mainly caused by eating more calories than your body can expend. In rare instances, there may be other causes.

Living a sedentary lifestyle and not getting enough exercise is also a cause of obesity. When you are not exercising, your body burns fewer calories and stores excess calories as fat. It is also important to eat the right kind of food. When you consume high amounts of saturated fats, trans fats and foods that are high in cholesterol, the risk of obesity and heart disease is even greater.

To calculate BMI, multiply your weight by 703. That number is then divided by your height multiplied by itself. You are considered to be obese if your BMI number is greater than 30. If your BMI number is greater than 40, you are considered to be extremely obese.