Obesity is a major health concern globally and is closely linked to numerous chronic diseases, including hypertension (high blood pressure).
Managing obesity often leads to significant improvements in hypertension, and one of the most effective treatments for severe obesity is bariatric surgery.
This review explores how bariatric surgery helps manage obesity-related hypertension, providing insights into the benefits and mechanisms behind this relationship.
Bariatric surgery includes several types of operations that help with weight loss either by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, decreasing the absorption of nutrients, or both.
The most common surgeries are the gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and adjustable gastric band. Each type of surgery has a different approach, but all aim to help reduce body weight and improve metabolic health.
The connection between obesity and hypertension is well-documented. Excess body weight can cause high blood pressure by increasing the workload of the heart and by promoting inflammation and insulin resistance, all of which can impair the function of blood vessels.
Reducing body weight has been shown to help lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of developing related complications such as heart disease and stroke.
Research shows that bariatric surgery can lead to significant weight loss and substantially reduce blood pressure in many patients.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients who underwent bariatric surgery found that surgery resulted in an average weight loss of about 30% of body weight.
More impressively, hypertension was resolved or improved in approximately 63% of these patients. The reduction in blood pressure was significant enough in some cases to allow patients to reduce or even discontinue their blood pressure medications.
The mechanisms behind these improvements are not solely related to weight loss. Bariatric surgery also affects various hormonal and metabolic pathways that influence blood pressure.
For instance, surgery-induced changes in gut hormones such as GLP-1 and PYY not only help regulate appetite and satiety but also improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, all of which are beneficial for controlling blood pressure.
Furthermore, the improvement in blood pressure control after bariatric surgery has been found to be long-lasting. Long-term studies indicate that many patients maintain lower blood pressure and require fewer or no hypertension medications for years after surgery.
This suggests that the effects of bariatric surgery go beyond temporary weight reduction and may induce lasting changes in the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure.
It is important to note that bariatric surgery is not without risks and is usually recommended for individuals who have not achieved significant weight loss through lifestyle changes alone and who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or 35 and higher with serious comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes.
As with any surgery, potential complications can include infection, nutrient deficiencies, and other surgery-related issues.
In conclusion, bariatric surgery is a powerful tool for managing obesity and its related complications, including hypertension.
By significantly reducing body weight and altering hormonal and metabolic functions, bariatric surgery can lead to substantial improvements in blood pressure control.
This not only reduces the need for medication but also decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with hypertension. For many patients struggling with severe obesity and high blood pressure, bariatric surgery offers a potentially life-changing treatment option.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about how diets could help lower high blood pressure, and 3 grams of omega-3s a day keep high blood pressure at bay.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about how tea and coffee influence your risk of high blood pressure, and results showing this olive oil could reduce blood pressure in healthy people.
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