Bariatric surgery is a super powerful tool that provides significant, long-term weight loss that enhances a patient's quality of life drastically. Many people who are thinking about having bariatric surgery are in poor health and may have one or more obesity-related diseases.
The four major obesity-related diseases that are improved through bariatric surgery are:
1. Type 2 Diabetes
2. Hypertension
3. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
4. Hyperlipidemia
Through extreme weight loss that's caused by surgery, so many people see major improvements in these diseases. Left untreated, these diseases can be life-threatening.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes = a chronic condition that affects the way your body processes blood sugar.
Bariatric surgery causes a significant improvement in type 2 diabetes. Studies show that blood sugar levels and insulin levels return to normal in some patients even within a few days following surgery. This is even BEFORE significant weight loss. The RNY Gastric Bypass and Biliopancreatic Diversion w/ Duodenal Switch are the two most effective procedures for curing Type 2 Diabetes.
Hypertension
Hypertension = high blood pressure; when the force of the blood against your arteries is too high.
Studies consistently show hypertension improves just one year after surgery. There's about a 70% remission in hypertension in patients. This improvement occurs because of the weight that's lost.
One study compared bariatric surgery to medical treatment (medicine) over a 6 year period and found that remission of hypertension was about 32% in the surgical group compared to just 13% in the group who did not have surgery.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea = a serious sleep disorder that involves periodic collapsing of soft tissues in the throat during sleep that leads to a temporary cessation of breathing.
With tremendous weight loss, the tissues in your airway decrease which eliminates upper airway collapse. Many patients notice a striking improvement just 3 months post-op.
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia: a high level of fat in the blood
Losing just 5-10% of your body weight will improve your cholesterol levels. Other lifestyle changes associated with surgery like exercising more, eating more vegetables and less saturated fat also contribute to an improvement in your cholesterol levels.
Weight loss surgery provides SO many benefits to SO many people! On top of improving these four major diseases, you will also sleep better, move easier, have less joint pain, and even improve your sex life!
Resources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/files/org/bariatric/guides/sleep-apnea-brochure.ashx?la=en
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