Benefits of Bariatric Surgery for Hypertension
You have hypertension, or high blood pressure when the pressure in your arteries is too high for a long time. Your heart is like a pump pushing blood through hoses (your arteries). Imagine your heart has to consistently push too hard. It can cause problems.
The blood pressure is measured with two numbers: systolic (when your heart beats) and diastolic (when your heart rests).
If your blood pressure is 130/80 mm Hg or higher, you might have hypertension.
How Obesity Affects Blood Pressure
Research shows that being very overweight, or obese, is a major cause of high blood pressure, or hypertension.
In fact, up to 75% of people with high blood pressure are also obese.
Obesity and blood pressure affect each other: being obese can lead to high blood pressure, and having high blood pressure can make people gain weight. This creates a cycle that makes it harder to treat and manage both conditions.
Let’s understand how obesity, or being very overweight, can lead to hypertension
Here are 5 factors that affect the blood pressure.
- Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system helps control blood pressure and fluid balance. Extra fat can make this system work too much. When it’s overactive, it raises blood pressure by holding onto sodium and making blood vessels tighter.
- Sympathetic Nervous System: Extra belly fat can make this part of your body work harder, speeding up your heart and raising blood pressure.
- Hormones: Obesity messes with hormones, causing insulin problems and inflammation, which can damage blood vessels and increase blood pressure.
- Kidney Pressure: Extra weight puts pressure on your kidneys, making them less effective at controlling blood pressure.
- Endothelial Dysfunction: Obesity can inflame your blood vessels, making them less flexible, which raises blood pressure.
Blood pressure is one of the most common issues in India and people live with it and accept it as part of their normal life.
However, when someone is obese and has a BMI of 35 kg/m² or more, the situation may get worse.
Complications of High Blood Pressure
Let’s understand why it is critical to manage hypertension if you are also obese.
Heart Disease: Over time, high blood pressure can damage your arteries, leading to reduced blood flow. This can lead to serious heart problems, like heart attacks and heart failure.
Stroke: There is a risk of stroke because of blocking or bursting blood vessels in the brain, which can cause brain damage.
Kidney Damage: High blood pressure can harm the small blood vessels in your kidneys, leading to kidney disease or failure.
Vision Problems: It can damage the blood vessels in your eyes, which might lead to vision problems or even loss of sight.
Cognitive Decline: When the brain receives less blood flow than needed, it can cause memory problems and increase the risk of dementia.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Arteries in your legs may become narrow, making walking painful.
Hypertensive Crisis: Extremely high blood pressure (180/120 mm Hg or more) can cause an emergency that needs immediate treatment.
At the Laparo-Obeso Centre in Pune, India, Dr Shahsank Shah has operated on thousands of patients who were obese and had hypertension.
When Bariatric Surgery Might Help
Dr Shashank Shah recommends bariatric surgery as a great option for people with severe obesity and high blood pressure.
Here are the situations in which you may consider bariatric surgery:
Uncontrolled Hypertension: You are taking several medications, but your blood pressure is still high
Resistant Hypertension: If you consistently need three or more medicines to control your blood pressure.
Obesity Levels: If you have a BMI between 30 and 39.9 kg/m² and high blood pressure, and exercise and diet aren’t working for you.
This means if you are obese and fighting with high blood pressure and even multiple medications are not getting things in control, you should consider bariatric surgery.
What Are the Benefits of Bariatric Surgery for Hypertension
Possible Remission: Many people see their high blood pressure go away after surgery. About 60-70% of patients have their blood pressure controlled within the first year.
Less Medication: About 83.7% of patients who had gastric bypass surgery reduced their blood pressure medications, compared to only 12.8% who used just medicine.
Long-Term Results: The rates of getting rid of high blood pressure can be as high as 50% within a year, and 31.9% after around 6.5 years.
How Surgery Helps Lower Blood Pressure
Weight Loss: Losing a lot of weight can lower blood pressure.
Better Insulin Sensitivity: Improved insulin use can help manage blood pressure.
Less Inflammation: Surgery can reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to high blood pressure.
Hormonal Changes: Surgery increases hormones that help get rid of sodium, which can lower blood pressure.
Kidney Function: Less fat around the kidneys means less pressure on them, improving blood pressure control.
What Are The Changes You Feel After Treating Hypertension
Here’s what we have observed about our patients once they manage or cure high blood pressure.
Physical Changes:
More Energy: Your organs and tissues get better oxygen and nutrition with better blood flow. You feel more energetic and less tired.
Better Sleep: Your sleep may improve, as high blood pressure often disrupts sleep.
Fewer Symptoms: Headaches, dizziness, or nosebleeds might go away, making you feel better overall.
Weight Loss: Imagine 60 to 80% of extra weight is shredded from your body – you feel lighter, more energetic and
Easier Physical Activity: With better blood pressure, physical activities may become easier and more enjoyable.
And it doesn’t stop at the physical changes.
Emotional and Psychological Changes Of Managing or Curing Hypertension:
Increased Confidence: You feel more in control of your health.
Less Anxiety: You feel more relaxed rather than being anxious most of the time.
Improved Mood: Since you feel better physically it often leads to a better mood and outlook on life.
Sense of Accomplishment: Successfully managing or curing hypertension can make you feel proud and motivated to keep up with healthy habits.
Understanding how hypertension works, and how obesity affects it, can help in managing and preventing serious health issues.
Whether through lifestyle changes or medical interventions, taking steps to control blood pressure can lead to a healthier and happier life.
If you are struggling with obesity and hypertension, consulting with Dr. Shashank Shah could be the first step towards better health.
