Diabetes and obesity are factors related to heart disease. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes your body to use insulin ineffectively. This results in your body being unable to convert all of the glucose or sugar from the food you eat into energy. As a result, this excess glucose coats your blood vessels, damaging every vessel in your entire body. This also raises your risk for a number of diseases, including heart disease.
Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index of greater than 30. Being obese, especially carrying that excess weight around your middle, directly contributes to high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and diabetes.
Tip: If you’re very overweight, getting to your ideal weight may seem like a hopeless goal. But if you lose only 10 percent of your body weight, you’ll see immediate improvement. Not only will you look better, but you will also have better blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose readings. In fact, losing 10 pounds is generally equivalent to eliminating the need for one blood pressure medication.
I’m Steve Taylor, Physical Therapist, of Southern Physical and Occupational Therapy Services
Moving You To A Pain-Free Lifestyle
