How Losing Weight Affects Heart Health

One of the biggest benefits of monitored weight loss programs is the way they can change your health. Weight loss has a dramatic impact on your overall health, from lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes to cutting your chances of developing osteoarthritis. A personalized weight loss plan in Orlando, FL, can also play a role in improving your heart health. If you lose weight, here are some of the heart health benefits you can expect to gain.

Lower Blood Pressure

When you’re overweight, your heart has to work harder with every beat to keep blood flowing through your vessels. Plaque that builds up in the blood vessels when you are overweight can make your heart’s job even harder. These factors lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can cause heart attacks or strokes. When you lose weight, your blood pressure will likely go down with the numbers on the scale. Many people find that they can reduce their dosages of blood pressure medication or stop it completely after succeeding with a personalized weight loss plan.

Lower Cholesterol

Being overweight affects all of your cholesterol numbers in the wrong way. Excess weight tends to drive up your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol while decreasing your HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the kind of that clogs your arteries, while HDL cholesterol helps your body break down LDL cholesterol, which is why low LDL and high HDL numbers are desirable. Weight loss rights this equation so that your triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels fall while your HDL numbers increase. This means a lower risk of heart disease.

Lower Risk of Blood Clots

In blood vessels that are clogged with plaque, blood clots can easily form. These blood clots can block the flow of blood, leading to a heart attack or stroke, or they could break off and travel to the lungs, heart, or brain, causing an aneurysm. When you lose weight and your arteries are less clogged, your risk of dangerous blood clots drops dramatically.