Free Consultation – Click Here!
Bariatric surgery is mainly performed to aid in weight loss for individuals that suffer from severe obesity, but it can also lead to significant improvements or remission of various medical conditions. Some of the conditions that can be treated or improved by bariatric weight loss surgery include:
Obesity is associated with many chronic diseases, many of which are life-threatening. These diseases and risk factors significantly improve after bariatric surgery and weight loss. If you’re a candidate for bariatric surgery with Dr. Sosa, you may already have or be at risk of developing any of these life-threatening diseases, including:
High cholesterol: Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) means your blood has too many lipids (fats) in it. When these lipids add up they can lead to blockages in your blood vessels. This is why high cholesterol can definitely put you at risk for a stroke or heart attack.
High blood pressure: Hypertension (high blood pressure) means the force of blood flowing through the blood vessels in your body is too high. This deteriorates the walls of your blood vessels and puts you at greater risk of heart attack and stroke.
High blood sugar: Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is strongly linked to insulin resistance and considered a precursor to diabetes. When left untreated, it can damage your nerves, blood vessels, tissues and organs, increasing your risk of many diseases.
Type 2 diabetes: Excess fat storage can lead to insulin resistance, which can lead to adult-onset diabetes (type 2). The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases by 20% for each 1 point increase on the BMI (body mass index) scale.
Heart disease: Obesity can lead to weakened cardiac function and heart failure. It can also cause plaque to build up inside your arteries and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Kidney disease: Metabolic syndromes associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, insulin resistance and congestive heart failure, are major contributors to chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Obstructive sleep apnea: People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep when their upper respiratory tract becomes blocked.
These episodes reduce oxygen flow to the vital organs and particularly endanger the heart.
Osteoarthritis: Having excess body weight puts extra pressure on joints like your knees. This makes it more likely that you’ll develop osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, or make it worse if you already have it.
Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD): NAFLD happens when your body begins depositing excess fat in your liver. It can lead to non-alcohol related steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic inflammation that can do long-term damage to your liver.
Cancer: While the connection isn’t entirely understood, obesity is correlated with an increased risk of acquiring more than 12 types of cancer. It also increases your risk of death from cancer by more than 50%.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Type 2 diabetes: Bariatric surgery usually leads to significant improvement or even remission of type 2 diabetes, sometimes even before substantial weight loss occurs.
High blood pressure control: Many individuals experience a reduction in blood pressure following bariatric surgery, which can help manage hypertension.
Lower Cholesterol levels: (high cholesterol and triglycerides become lower): Bariatric surgery can lead to improvements in cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Better sleep: Weight loss from bariatric surgery can reduce the severity of sleep apnea or even resolve it in some cases.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Bariatric surgery can improve liver function and reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver.
Relief from Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Some individuals experience relief from GERD symptoms after bariatric surgery, although certain procedures may exacerbate symptoms in some cases.
Improved lung function: Weight loss can improve asthma symptoms and lung function in individuals with obesity.
Joint pain and osteoarthritis: Bariatric surgery can alleviate pressure on joints, leading to reduced pain and improved mobility.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Bariatric surgery may help improve hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS and increase the likelihood of ovulation and fertility.
Improved mood and self-esteem: many individuals that are obese suffer from depression and anxiety. While not a direct treatment for mental health conditions, significant weight loss following bariatric surgery can lead to improvements in mood and self-esteem, potentially benefiting individuals with depression and anxiety.
If you are ready to change your life, lose the excess weight and improve your health, contact Dr. Soda today.