Question:
Is it true losing weight to fast can put a strain on your heart?

I want this surgery and I'm going to get it...but..my husbands uncle said he knew someone that lost 100 pds really fast and died shortly after because it put to much strain on his heart...is that true? I could understand if he was takin ephredrine...or something. I dont think he got WLS..any info will help alot thanks    — cinamoni (posted on April 18, 2003)

April 18, 2003
Hmm..I always thought being OBESE put the strain on the heart...I'd say that maybe he already had heart problems (wether or not he knew this??)and the WLS is being unsoundly blamed..I have a strong family history of heart disease...one reason I decided to DO something now...before I had these problems...My WLS is next WED the 23rd!! YA HOO
   — Jamie M.

April 18, 2003
Hmm, I don't know. All I have heard is that weight loss helps with heart function. The only thing I can think of - and of course this is my own layperson's opinion, since I'm not even remotely a doctor - is that when you loose weight you do sometimes loose lean body mass. I have a VERY VERY thin friend. She has trouble keeping on weight and recently was very ill and lost even more weight. Her doctor said she could die because she was damaging her heart and organs. But that again is an extreme case. With weight loss, as we see over and over, it is important to stay active to maintain muscle mass. The heart is a muscle, so maybe major rapid weight loss, in the absense of good nutrition and excersize could be bad?? I don't know.
   — w8free

April 18, 2003
I'll bet that friend had an electrolyte imbalance from the rapid weightloss. I believe there is a much greater strain on the heart of someone who is morbidly obese than one who is losing weight under medical supervision. That's the key to staying healthy and getting in shape.
   — DianeN

April 18, 2003
It could be a remote possibility that this person lost the weight in an extremely unhealthy way. His body may have tried to preserve itself by utilizing it's own protein - muscle, and the heart is muscle. This happens in people with anorexia. On the other hand, when you have surgery to lose weight, you are already aware of the risks and know (how much is it heard here!!!???) that you have to get enough protein in! I think having surgery and losing weight in a healthier way is not a problem for your heart. It is absolutely true that obesity is really hard on one's heart. As for losing the weight fast, it only happens for awhile. Plus, I look at it this way: if i am walking up a hill with two bags of groceries, and I'm getting out of breath and tired, would it be better to put down a bag of those groceries and move on, or take a couple of items out, go on, take a couple more out, walk some more, etc. ? I'd think it would be easier on my heart and lungs to put a whole bag down! Your husband's uncle just has heresay - he does not know the facts in this case and is just trying to "warn' you. He obviously knows nothing about WLS. Pay no attention to this.
   — koogy

April 19, 2003
Amy ... I see you've got your share of Negative Nellies in your life, too! I'm sure there HAVE been people who have lost weight stupidly (like on diet pills or by starving or whatever) and put a strain on your heart. You might tell your uncle that Karen Carpenter died from heart strain caused by trying to get healthy after years and years and years of being an ANOREXIC! I would assume that, if you have a pre-existing heart condition, that your surgeon and your doctor will monitor you carefully both pre- and post-op to ensure that you don't do any/more damage. But, for most of us, it's not an issue. I think your uncle might be scared for you -- or scared for himself, as in how's he going to relate to little Amy if she's not a chubbette anymore? -- so he's trying to "help" you. Just smile, say "Oh, really? That's very interesting, thank you for bringing it to my attention", and MOVE ON. This is YOUR life, and YOUR decision. If you're really worried, talk to your surgeon -- but I think for most of us it's not even an issue. Good luck!
   — Cheryl Denomy

April 20, 2003
hiya...perhaps the death was due to not enough protein in his diet. believe it or not, not getting enough protein can cause heart, liver, and brain dysfunction! i found that in an article on www.spotlighthealth.com it was in the nutrition article. kate
   — jkb

April 20, 2003
MOs are at big risk gfor heart troubles. Now the person who died had lost 100 pounds so they at least started out MO. Without having their entire health history its immpossible to know what went wrong. A friend of a friend died after WLS. I did some checking on one of these once. True the poor fellow died, he was hit by a truck.
   — bob-haller