Co-Morbid Conditions
What is a co-morbid condition?
There are two definitions for a co-morbid condition: the presence of one or more disorder or disease in addition to a primary disorder or disease; or, the presence of a disorder or disease that is caused by or otherwise related to another condition in the same patient.
What is type 2 diabetes and how is it affected by bariatric surgery?
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder where the body produces insulin, but resists it. Insulin is necessary for the body to utilize sugar.
- 83.8 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery experienced complete resolution of type 2 diabetes.
- 47.8 percent of patients who had gastric banding surgery experienced complete resolution of type 2 diabetes.
- Patients who had bariatric surgery had lower insulin resistance, and their risk for metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high amount of fats in the blood also decreased.
What is high blood pressure (hypertension) and how is it affected by bariatric surgery?
Excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. These conditions can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart and kidney damage. Bariatric surgery reduces excess body weight over time, which decreases strain on the heart.
- 75.4 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery experienced complete resolution of high blood pressure.
- 38.4 percent of patients who had gastric banding surgery experienced complete resolution of high blood prssure.
- Changes in diet and exercise after surgery can lead to significant improvement of cardiovascular problems.
What is high cholesterol and how is it affected by bariatric surgery?
High cholesterol is a disorder of lipids-the fat-like substances in the blood. A common form of dyslipidemia is hyperlipidemia (or high cholesterol), the condition that exists when someone has too much of certain lipids in the blood. As these lipids build up inside the artery walls, harmful scar tissue and other debris begin thickening and hardening the walls. Long-term, this can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure.
- 95 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery experienced improved cholesterol health.
- 78.3 percent of patients who had gastric banding surgery experienced improved cholesterol health.
What is sleep apnea and how is it affected by bariatric surgery?
Obstructive sleep apnea is when breathing suddenly stops because soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. Morbid obesity can cause sleep apnea and other respiratory problems that may result in chronic fatigue.
- 86.6 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery experienced complete resolution of sleep apnea.
- 94.6 percent of patients who had gastric banding surgery experienced complete resolution of sleep apnea.
What is acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and how is it affected by bariatric surgery?
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, is injury to the esophagus caused by chronic exposure to stomach acid. It is a serious disease that can cause esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma).
- 98 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery experienced complete resolution of acid reflux/GERD.
- 32.3 percent of patients who had gastric banding surgery experienced complete resolution of acid reflux/GERD.
What is the relationship between morbid obesity and cancer?
Morbid obesity may put you at a higher risk for several types of cancer, such as colon, breast, and kidney cancer. In 2003, an article in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that obesity could account for:
- 14 percent of all deaths from cancer in men
- 20 percent of all deaths from cancer in women
