How Weight Loss Surgery Can Improve Heart Health

If high blood pressure is called the “silent killer,” then high cholesterol should be known as its “quiet cousin.” Since neither disease has obvious symptoms, people can be unaware that they have them. The good news is that bariatric surgery can help when weight is a contributing factor in hypertension or high cholesterol.

The target range for blood pressure is ≤ 140 (systolic) over ≤ 90 (diastolic). Higher pressure can definitely be dangerous. Why? Imagine water being forced through a narrow paper straw. As the pressure increases, the straw is likely to develop weak spots or even tear. That’s a simple illustration of what happens to our arteries if blood pressure is too high. The resulting pressure can damage the arterial walls. That creates places for plaque to build up, which narrows the arteries and can lead to heart attack or stroke. In the most extreme situation, the arterial wall can rupture, causing an aneurysm.

High cholesterol also has a narrowing effect on the arteries, as fatty deposits build up in blood vessels. That makes it harder for blood to flow through and can lead to higher blood pressure. Sometimes those deposits will break suddenly and form a clot that can cause heart attack or stroke. Just as with high blood pressure, cholesterol is something that needs to be closely monitored.

Unfortunately, these are not “single cause” diseases. “While it’s certainly true that being overweight can contribute to both hypertension and high cholesterol, they are not the only possible causes,” says Brian Gluck, DO, Trinity Health Medical Group, General Surgery. “Both of these diseases can have a significant genetic component as well.”

That being said, bariatric surgery can have a significant impact on both issues. “When patients begin to lose weight, their heart does not have to work as hard,” continues Dr. Gluck. “We monitor blood pressure at each patient visit. If we see that it continues to drop, we will quickly reduce medications. We don’t want blood pressure too low, because that creates its own set of problems! I would say we see a reduction or elimination of medication in about 50-60% of our patients.”

The changes in diet and exercise that go along with bariatric surgery can also help reduce high cholesterol. “Some foods are naturally higher in cholesterol,” observes Dr. Gluck. “Our nutritionists help patients learn how to make healthier choices and reduce cholesterol in their diets.”

The wrap-around care that occurs post-surgery has a positive impact on both of these conditions. Exercise, for example, can help reduce both blood pressure and cholesterol. We work with our patients to help them develop movement habits that will contribute to overall better health.

Our bariatric teams collaborate with a patient’s primary care physician to monitor and adjust blood pressure or high cholesterol medications. “An initial reduction may be seen in the first six weeks,” says Dr. Gluck. “As with many changes that result from bariatric surgery, the full impact may take 12-18 months.”

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If you would like to learn more about how bariatric surgery could help you achieve a healthier lifestyle,

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