The accumulation of fat around the liver can have a considerable impact on the health as well as functioning of the said vital organ. The same is true when fat envelops the heart, a disease known as fatty heart. It was thought that the buildup of fat around the heart was rather harmless. However, recent studies have shown that it can interfere with the functioning of the heart as it applies pressure around it.
Fatty heart is usually one of the many problems that stems from obesity. In other words, the problem is very much common among individuals who are way past their ideal weights. According to the experts, the amassing of fat around the heart coincides with an increase in excess poundage.
One of the most notable symptoms of fatty heart is a weakened heart. This is something inevitable as the pressure applied by fat on the heart causes the vital organ’s muscles undergo atrophy — wasting away of the muscle fibers due to the degeneration of the cells. With the heart muscles atrophied, its contractile power is considerably reduced, thus causing the weakness of the force of the action of the heart.
When listened to, the beating of the heart tends to sound weak and muffled. According to the experts, violent effort done by the obese individual with fatty heart may experience some signs and symptoms, including cyanosis (the skin’s bluish discoloration), breathing difficulty, palpitation, general distress, dizziness and even fainting.
Another scary thing that fatty heart can bring is a change in the electrical activity of the heart. It’s no secret in the medical world that an erratic electrical activity in the heart can be fatal as it may lead to sudden cardiac arrest, causing death. Needless to say, fatty heart is a disease that should be taken very seriously!
Aside from overweight people, fatty heart is also commonly found in individuals who are leading sedentary lifestyles, as well as those who eat excessively and consume a lot of alcohol. In advanced cases of fatty heart, the prognosis is usually an unfavorable one. Treatment for reducing fat around the heart should not have a negative impact on the overall health of the cardiovascular system or compromise the patient’s wellbeing.
Fortunately, just like fat deposited in other areas of the body, fat that have collected around the heart is possible to melt off provided that fatty heart is not an advance case. Exercising on a regular basis and following some of the smart diet tips below can help in managing fatty heart, the signs and symptoms it brings, and the dangers associated with it:
- Stay away from fast foods and fried foods as they contain trans fat, a kind of fat that’s very bad for your health. When shopping for snacks, check that there’s “0 trans fat” printed on the packaging.
- Reduce your intake of red meat and pork as they contain saturated fats. To obtain good amounts of protein, include chicken, eggs and fish in your everyday diet.
- Stay away from processed meats like bacon and sausages because they are loaded with toxins. When shopping for meat, it’s a good idea to opt for grass-fed sources as well as lean parts only.
- Add more healthy fat in your diet to help counter bad fat in the body. Some wonderful examples include almonds, peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and avocados.
- Opt for cold-pressed and organic oils such as olive oil. That’s because most vegetable oils like canola oil and corn oil have undergone processing, making them bad for your health when heated.
- Include more colorful fruits and veggies in your everyday diet. Aside from supplying your body with impressive nutrients, they also help you lose weight safely and effectively.
- Consume more fish, especially oily ones. The likes of salmon, trout, halibut, tuna, mackerel and sardines are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids that promote a healthy heart.
- Go for wild rice, brown rice, and breads and pasta out of whole grains. These food products are packed with dietary fiber that helps reduce excess weight and bad cholesterol levels.
- Turn your back on anything that contains refined sugar because it can trigger inflammation, something that can cause a host of problems like obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.
