Obesity and Inflammatory Diseases in the Cardiovascular System

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Table of Contents

Background
Defining Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases
The Cardiovascular System and Associated Diseases
The Importance of Ghrelin and TNF-A in Obesity Disorders
Mediating Role of the Adipose Tissue and Adipokines
Literature Review
Reference List

Background

The dangers related to obesity are a crucial topic of conversation for medical professionals. Excessive weight can be a challenging condition to manage, especially due to the high number of health issues that are typically caused by this disorder. The change in the normal functioning of the human body originated by the disease is bound to give rise to such complications as heart issues, diabetes, and high cholesterol (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). However, the most crucial consequences of obesity are connected to cardiovascular conditions and inflammation, disorders that may initiate numerous adverse ramifications due to their connection to the heart.

Defining Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases

The emergence of obesity has become a crucial issue for the contemporary age, with numerous populations suffering from the onset of this disorder. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines both overweight and obesity as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health” (WHO, 2021). Considering that excessive weight can cause a tremendous number of negative health consequences, monitoring one’s weight is essential for ensuring the necessary level of welfare.

One of the largest risks connected to obesity is the damage to the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Responsible for transferring blood throughout the human organism, this system plays a critical role in the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other chemicals to various parts of the body (Kachur et al., 2017). In a normally-functioning organism, the cardiovascular system, also called the circulatory system, can easily reach the necessary organs and vessels, controlling the transportation of vital substances. However, when a part of this system is impaired due to obesity, the delivery process becomes hindered, resulting in the malfunction of the bodily systems and organs (Kachur et al., 2017). Being one of the leading causes of death in the world, cardiovascular disorders and obesity causes 4 million deaths yearly, and WHO reports that these figures continue to increase today (WHO, 2021). Coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and strokes are the most frequently occurring types of cardiovascular events.

The Cardiovascular System and Associated Diseases

Obesity can result in a high number of health issues that are defined as major cardiovascular diseases. The most common cardiovascular disorders, namely coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and pulmonary embolism, can originate due to a number of factors, including excessive weight. While the primary reason is the build-up of fatty material in the blood vessels, cardiovascular problems can also be associated with numerous obesity risks, from high cholesterol to elevated blood pressure and diabetes (Kachur et al., 2017). From this perspective, it is crucial to understand how the onset of obesity is triggered and how this disorder develops.

The Importance of Ghrelin and TNF-A in Obesity Disorders

Hormones and proteins play a crucial role in the development of obesity and related disorders. As the majority of the organs are regulated by these substances, their abnormal production can have devastating effects on the human organism. In the case of obesity, a critical factor to consider is ghrelin, also referred to as the hunger hormone (Makris et al., 2017). Ghrelin is responsible for controlling the appetite and metabolism, managing the individual’s desire to seek food intake. If the secretion of this hormone is imbalanced, the person’s appetite might become excessive, leading to the accumulation of extra body fat (Patsalos et al., 2020). In this regard, it is essential to control for the excess ghrelin levels in obese individuals.

Another aspect that might contribute to the generation of excessive weight is the release of TNF-a or Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha. TNF-a is a bodily cytokine produced when an acute inflammation event is happening in the body, and it can initiate numerous processes within the cells, such as necrosis, apoptosis, or dysregulation of the adipose tissue (Kang et al., 2016). However, recent studies suggest that when levels of TNF-a are reduced, the individual’s insulin resistance can be tremendously diminished, leading to weight gain (Kang et al., 2016). Considering that TNF-a can impact the functioning of adipose tissue and subsequent obesity or weight loss, its role in the onset of overweight conditions is imperative to consider.

Mediating Role of the Adipose Tissue and Adipokines

A different aspect of the human organism to be addressed when discussing obesity is the adipose tissue and adipokines. White adipose tissue, or body fat, is the tissue that is accumulated to maintain a thermal balance and store extra calories, adipokines are the molecules secreted by this tissue (Kang et al., 2016). Similar to TNF-a, adipokines are also considered cytokines, and they can signal the launch or termination of the metabolic processes (Kang et al., 2016). In obesity, the excess of adipose tissue leads to the abnormal excretion of adipokines, which affect the regulation of body fat accumulation and can promote weight gain.

Literature Review

Cardiovascular System’s Link to Obesity and TNF-A

The negative impact of obesity on the cardiovascular system is a phenomenon frequently cited in academic literature. The aforementioned consequences of obesity, namely high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and the build-up of fatty tissues in the blood vessels, are discussed as the main elements that connect excessive weight and heart disorders (Kachur et al., 2017). As obesity progresses, these factors affect the blood vessels and heart tissue, resulting in issues of blood transportation. In the long term, such influence can lead to full vessel blockages and heart muscle deterioration, adversely impacting the individual’s health.

Although TNF-a’s primary role is the mediation of inflammatory and immune functions, recent scholarly evidence suggests that this cytokine can also affect the cardiovascular system. In specific circumstances, this substance can elicit the emergence of obesity, further increasing the risks of cardiovascular diseases. As such, Alzamil (2020) states that TNF-a is a major factor in controlling cardiac contractility and peripheral resistance, the events necessary for the normal performance of the heart. These findings are also supported by Shan and Zhang (2019), who link TNF-a with both the occurrence of obesity and the increased risk of major heart disorders. From this perspective, TNF-a affects both the body weight and the cardiovascular system, elevating the possibility of developing severe cardiovascular diseases.

The Hunger Hormone and Leptin in the Cardiovascular System and Obesity

Contrary to TNF-a, ghrelin has a different connection to obesity and cardiovascular system problems. While abnormally high levels of ghrelin can indeed promote hunger and weight gain, it seems that the hormone’s administration can reduce the risk of heart disorders. Makris et al. (2017) argue that the administration of ghrelin leads to the emergence of protective effects, diminishing the possibility of developing heart failure, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Ghrelin appears to directly impact the cardiovascular cells and even promote cardiovascular healing in patients who already possess a heart disorder.

In addition to the hunger hormone, leptin is often recognized as a substance that plays a vital role in regulating obesity onset. Similar to ghrelin, leptin also regulates appetite and metabolism and is a significant marker that can interfere with the healthy functioning of the human body (Kang et al., 2016). This substance is reported as the primary factor that causes cardiovascular system disruptions in obese individuals and can lead to severe disruptions in the heart. Resistance to leptin adversely affects the production of fat cells, promoting their growth even when all the necessary fat tissue resources have been accumulated (Cui et al., 2017). In addition to leptin, adiponectin and resistin serve as pro-inflammatory markers of the adipose tissue and can also be considered obesity threat factors.

Excessive Weight and Associated Cardiovascular System Risks

The occurrence of obesity is closely linked to cardiovascular diseases, primarily due to the aspects of long-term overweight conditions. First of all, the excessive weight causes dramatic changes in the person’s cholesterol levels, which have been shown to increase the risk of heart diseases and stroke (Kachur et al., 2017). Secondly, high blood pressure is a common phenomenon in obese individuals, when more pressure is required to transport the blood throughout the organism (Kachur et al., 2017). Increased pressure becomes a tremendous strain for the heart, leading to heart attacks. Finally, obesity also contributes to the build-up of fatty materials in the blood vessels, causing blockages that prevent blood from reaching the organs.

Adipose Tissue and Inflammation

Adipose tissue has been known to contribute to inflammation, a process that is connected to obesity in humans. Typically, adipose tissue must sustain inflammation as an immune response; however, when this organ begins to function abnormally, the adipokines might cause excessive inflammation and contribute to the accumulation of extra body fat (Shan and Zhang, 2019). In the long term, if the inflammation process is not hindered, it can lead to disruptions in the secretion of ghrelin, leptin, and other cytokines, thus resulting in cardiovascular system issues.

Reference List

Alzamil, H. (2020) ‘Elevated serum TNF-α is related to obesity in type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with glycemic control and insulin resistance’, Journal of Obesity, 2020.

Cui, H., López, M. and Rahmouni, K. (2017) ‘The cellular and molecular bases of leptin and ghrelin resistance in obesity’, Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 13(6), pp. 338–351. Web.

Kachur, S., Lavie, C. J., de Schutter, A., Milani, R. V., and Ventura, H. O. (2017). ‘Obesity and cardiovascular diseases’. Minerva Medica, 108(3), pp. 212–228. Web.

Kang, Y. E., Kim, J. M., Joung, K. H., Lee, J. H., You, B. R., Choi, M. J., Ryu, M. J., Ko, Y. B., Lee, M. A., Lee, J., Ku, B. J., Shong, M., Lee, K. H., and Kim, H. J. (2016) ‘The roles of adipokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adipose tissue macrophages in obesity-associated insulin resistance in modest obesity and early metabolic dysfunction’. PLOS ONE, 11(4). Web.

Makris, M. C., Alexandrou, A., Papatsoutsos, E. G., Malietzis, G., Tsilimigras, D. I., Guerron, A. D., and Moris, D. (2017) ‘Ghrelin and obesity: Identifying gaps and dispelling myths. A Reappraisal’. In Vivo, 31(6), pp. 1047–1050.

Patsalos, O. et al. (2020) ‘Impact of TNF-α Inhibitors on Body Weight and BMI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11.

Shan, J., and Zhang, J. (2019) ‘Impact of obesity on the efficacy of different biologic agents in inflammatory diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis’. Joint Bone Spine, 86(2), pp. 173–183. Web.

WHO. (2021). Obesity and overweight. Web.

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