INVC,,
Delhi,,
Shedding extra weight improves the heart functions whether the weight loss comes from eating less or exercising more, said Padma Shri & Dr. B.C. Roy National Awardee, Dr. KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India.
Moderate weight loss, around 10% of the weight, can restore heart’s elasticity — making it easier for the heart to relax between contractions and refill with blood.
With age the body tissue accumulates collagen fibers, which causes heart muscle and arteries — to become stiffer. So over time, the heart starts to take a bit longer to relax between contractions and fill back with blood. Excess weight and obesity in particular adds to this misery by further causing further worsening of the relaxing functions of the heart. The weight can be reduced by diet alone, exercise alone or both. The end result is improvement in the heart functions so long as one looses weight.
