Chockalingam, Anand, Senthil Kumar, Mauricio Sendra Ferrer, Saivaroon Gajagowni, Maxwell Isaac, Poorna Karuparthi, Kul Aggarwal, et al. “Siddha Fasting in Obese Acute Decompensated Heart Failure May Improve Hospital Outcomes through Empowerment and Natural Ketosis.” EXPLORE, December 23, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2021.12.003.
Morbid Obesity, or a BMI of 30 or higher, is often a cause of Acute Heart Failure (AHF). AHF is broadly referring to both congenital heart failure where the heart is, over time, unable to effectively do it's job, and sudden onset heart failure such as heart attacks. The heart has to work harder to get blood all over the body because excess fat cells raise LDL (or bad) cholesterol levels, and lowers HDL (or good) cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which are what clogs arteries. Clogged arteries raises blood pressure, which means the heart has to work that much harder to get blood throughout the body. The longer a person is morbidly obese, the higher the prevalence of AHF, 30% at 15 years and 90% at 30 years.
Intermittent fasting was used as part of the treatment of five case studies of morbidly obese patients with AHF. Intermittent fasting with meditation were the only reported changes to their routine. All five patients reported losing between 20 - 33 pounds over 6-8 weeks. In addition to weight loss, they also reported better mental health, more mobility, reduced medication intervention, and no rehospitalization (after a period of 6 months of intermittent fasting).
The potential of fasting in reducing heart workload, improved blood circulation, and reducing angina (or pain in the chest, shoulders, and arms) through fat weight loss could be a beneficial treatment for AHF.
Check out our Can I Fast? page for other conditions that can be improved with Flexible Fasting.