Obesity Acceptance: Body Positivity and Clinical Risk Factors

Most people are aware of how they look and, whether poor or positive, have an opinion about their image. Social media influencers, pressure from societal norms, media images, and even friends and family can impact body image. Body positivity has undoubtedly gone mainstream. Included in this movement are obesity acceptance and its demarginalization. However, the acceptance of overweight and obesity may undermine the decades-long progress made toward reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity is a global epidemic disease with risk factors that include hypertension, inflammation, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Obesity is also associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Positive body image is an important component of overall health. However, also maintaining a proper clinical definition and self-perception of what constitutes “normal” weight, coupled with weight management, regular exercise, and monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar, will continue progress toward reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Methods of Reconstruction for Distal Aortic Dissection

The modern approach to the correction of aortic dissection involves the most complete reconstruction of the entire pathologically altered segment of the vessel, which is often impossible due to the vastness of the lesion and the associated severity of surgery. Reduction of intraoperative trauma can improve survival in the immediate postoperative period, and the completeness of reconstruction to reduce the number of complications and relapses in the long term. In this chapter, the methods of reconstruction of the aorta in case of distal dissection from a conventional open surgery to endovascular techniques, or usage of their combination for minimization of surgical trauma, are reviewed.

Overview of the Global Prevalence and Diagnostic Criteria of Takotsubo Syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and reversible abnormal condition of the heart also known as stress cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome, or broken heart syndrome. It is an uncommon disease that mostly occurs among Asians though studies have shown its occurrence in other parts of the world. The typical takotsubo syndrome patient has a unique circumferential left ventricular contraction abnormality that extends beyond a coronary artery supply territory and appears to follow the anatomical cardiac sympathetic innervation.