A stroke, often referred to as a brain attack, is a serious medical condition caused by detrimental changes in brain circulation, leading to either clots or bleeding in the brain. While numerous risk factors contribute to stroke, obesity poses a significant danger. To learn about how obesity and stroke risk, we spoke to Dr Kandraju Sai Satish, Consultant Neurologist and Epileptologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.
Stroke Prevalence Worldwide
According to a review published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) portal, stroke ranks as the second leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Dr Satish, “Numerous risk factors contribute to stroke, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, alcoholism, smoking, and overweight or obesity.”
When it comes to obesity, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that it has nearly tripled since 1975. It noted that In 2016, the number of overweight adults aged 18 years and older surpassed 1.9 billion, with over 650 million among them being classified as obese.
Dr Satish said that contributing factors to this epidemic include sedentary lifestyles, poor eating habits, high-calorie intake, alcoholism, and certain genetic factors.
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Obesity and Stroke Link
“One of the significant dangers of obesity is its role as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, and cerebrovascular diseases, like strokes or brain attacks. This risk is further magnified when obesity is part of a larger issue known as metabolic syndrome,” said Dr Satish.
Metabolic Syndrome is a combination of obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
Dr Satish suggested that adipose tissue, commonly known as fat tissue, in obese individuals releases increased amounts of harmful chemicals that negatively affect blood vessels. “These chemicals lead to the deposition of fat in the blood vessel walls, making them stiff and clogging the arteries, ultimately obstructing blood supply to vital organs like the brain, resulting in strokes,” he added.
Concerns
Dr Satish said that even more concerning is the rising incidence of strokes in younger individuals due to the increasing prevalence of obesity. As strokes are affecting people at productive ages, it is crucial to take every possible measure to reduce their occurrence and prevalence.
Prevention Strategy
“One effective strategy is weight reduction, which directly reduces the amount of adipose tissue in the body, thus decreasing the release of harmful chemicals,” said the doctor. He said that this reduction in the harmful chemical milieu aids in maintaining healthy arteries, mitigating the risk of strokes.
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“Moreover, addressing overweight issues also helps in maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure by increasing insulin sensitivity. This, in turn, serves as another mechanism by which the risk of strokes is reduced,” he explained.
Way Forward
Considering the impact of obesity on stroke risk, it is essential for individuals, communities, and healthcare systems to come together and combat the obesity epidemic. Raising awareness about the risks associated with obesity, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, and encouraging regular physical activity are some of the key steps that can be taken to address this issue.
Conclusion
Obesity is a significant contributor to the global burden of strokes and brain attacks. It is high time that we acknowledge the gravity of the obesity epidemic and take collective action to prevent strokes by promoting healthy living, fostering weight reduction, and addressing the root causes of obesity. By doing so, we can make substantial progress in reducing the incidence and impact of strokes, ultimately leading to a healthier and more resilient global population.
[Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult your healthcare provider to get a thorough diagnosis and treatment as per your health needs.]
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