Guide To Heart Attack Causes And Risk Factors

Obesity

An obese individual has an increased risk of having a fatal heart attack. Obesity can cause an individual to develop high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and other risk factors associated with a heart attack. Obese individuals are also more likely to develop diabetes, which causes a significant increase in the risk of a heart attack. However, obesity independent of such factors still increases an individual's heart attack risk. Numerous studies have proven that heart attack risk remains elevated in obese individuals despite the absence or effective management of diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. The mechanism behind this increased risk is thought to involve the widespread inflammation that occurs in those who are obese. The excess fat cells in obese individuals can release certain substances into the body that induce an immune system response, or cause inflammation. Individuals who are obese also tend to have a larger heart than those who are not obese to help compromise for the additional stress on the heart from their larger blood volume and overall size.

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