November 9, 2020
Gastric Bypass Surgery is an efficacious method of weight loss for patients battling morbid obesity. A Gastric Bypass involves a procedure in which the stomach is divided into a small “upper pouch” and a much larger “lower pouch” and the small intestine is connected to both. This leads to a significant reduction in the patient’s food intake as well as their overall physical and physiological response to hunger and cravings. Weight loss, however, is not the only benefit of the surgery. There are several other major boons which patients experience in terms of other diseases and their overall health and bodily functioning.
1. Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia is a blanket term used to describe acquired or genetic disorders that result in high levels of lipids (fats, cholesterol, triglycerides) in blood circulation. It is a severe chronic disease that requires constant attention and medication to keep it in check. A successful GBP has the added benefit of complete correction of the condition. Statistics estimate that over 70% of patients who undergo Gastric Bypass manage to beat Hyperlipidemia.
2. Overtime Remission of Type-2 Diabetes
Bariatric surgery causes remission of difficult-to-control type-2 diabetes in the long run. Studies show that diabetes is reversed in more than 90% of the cases, which allows almost all patients to remain free of insulin and adjunct medications for at least three years after surgery.
3. Relief from Hypertension and Depression
Obesity significantly increases the risk of hypertension and depression, with overweight people being five times more prone to the health risks. People struggling with obesity face depression due to low self-esteem stemming from a poor image of their bodies. Losing excess weight not only has physiological benefits to depression but psychological as well.
4. Elimination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA is a very common sleeping disorder characterised by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway, which results in reduced or absent breathing during sleep. The accumulation of fat in the anterior neck region causes the upper airway to get narrow. Post Gastric Bypass Surgery, the fat deposits dissolve and the airways open again which directly mitigates the condition and helps patients sleep normally and reduce snoring.
5. Relief from Acid Reflux
Acid Reflux arises directly out of an increased Body Mass Index (BMI). Studies show that 13% of the changes in esophageal acid exposure are directly related to changes in BMI. A reduction in weight has been shown to completely eliminate acid reflux in almost all patients.
6. Relief from Joint Pains
Obese people carry around a lot more weight and pressure on their bones and joints when compared with individuals with normal weight. Consequently, a reduction in weight relieves patients of this excess pressure and the accompanying pain experienced in the joints.
Last Word
Gastric Bypass surgery, if done correctly keeping in mind all the precautions and adopting all the necessary lifestyle changes, can have miraculous results on patients’ physiological and psychological health. Many people make a 180 degree turn in their personal lives due to this ingenious and intricate procedure. If you’re considering going for bariatric surgery in Dallas, look no further than the DFW Bariatrics and General Surgery. To get answers to all your questions or book an appointment, call us at 469-620-0222 or fill our contact form.