Last Updated on December 19, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Arrhythmia is associated with several risk factors. Obesity is one such factor. However, neither all obese patients suffer from arrhythmia, nor all arrhythmia patients are obese. There are several health conditions that can cause it.
How is obesity associated with arrhythmia?
The complex pathophysiological mechanisms that associate cardiac arrhythmias with obesity remain poorly understood. However, there have been researches that state an association between the two conditions.
Research states that obesity is responsible for a 50%-increased incidence of Atrial Fibrillation. Obesity is linked with various diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. If a person is obese, there is a high chance of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). A-Fib is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. With A-Fib, there is an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Another research also associates obesity and arrhythmia by stating that people who are obese have a high risk of developing a rapid and irregular heart rate, called atrial fibrillation. This can cause complications, such as stroke, heart failure, etc. If a person is suffering from both obesity and arrhythmias, treating obesity will also help in treating and managing atrial fibrillation. Similarly, treating obesity, and losing weight through diet, exercise, or even surgery, will minimize the risk of developing chronic conditions like atrial fibrillation.
What are the risk factors for arrhythmia?
There are several risk factors for arrhythmia or irregular heart rhythm. These include heart diseases or heart problems, such as congenital heart disease, prior heart surgery, narrowed heart arteries, history of heart attack, abnormal heart valves, cardiomyopathy, etc.
Other risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, thyroid diseases, congenital defects, obstructive sleep apnea, excessive caffeine consumption, nicotine or illegal drug such as use, excessive alcohol intake, electrolyte imbalance, high or chemical agents, certain medications, etc.
Lastly, with increasing age, the prevalence of arrhythmia also increases.
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