Obesity-Related Inflammation Boosts Heart Risks

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He added that doctors "need to monitor their obese patients for early signs of inflammation in the heart and to use this information in determining how aggressively to treat the condition."

Lima and colleagues also found a link between inflammation and metabolic syndrome, which doubles a person's chances of developing heart failure. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors -- obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose levels, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels -- that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The study was published in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The MESA study was expected to continue tracking patients through 2012.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about heart failure.